The U.S. Mint will soon conclude a trial aimed at increasing the brief life-cycle of its dies by improving its method for gatheringinformation on those components.

The Mint of Philadelphia has been experimenting with placing two-dimensional barcodes on each die, allowing die setters to better monitor both the force of individual die strikes and the number of strikes a die can withstand before it is no longer usable.

The Mint tracks individual dies using serial numbers as part of a Die Information System. Dies are typically functional for about two days before they are retired, with Mint employees having to key in serial numbers manually at several points along the way. The Mint's Information Technology Department hopes the use of scanners and barcodes will streamline this process, while affording opportunities for improved data collection.

A notice from the Mint's Office of Corporate Communications points out that the process of die destruction in particular is ripe for simplification, as several employees are required to confirm a die's serial number during that process (in part to prevent counterfeiting). The Mint is testing both hand-held and stationary scanners as part of this initiative.

Dies are expensive and important tools in the minting process. They are composed of hardened steel that stamps a negative image of a coin's design into a softer planchet.

The barcode trials will be discontinued by the end of November. The press release notes that die setters seem to be embracing the new system, and if all goes well it could be implemented at both the Philadephia and Denver Mints.

To read the complete article, see:
U.S. Mint Tests Use of Barcodes to Extend Life of Dies (http://mintnewsblog.com/2015/11/u-s-mint-tests-use-of-barcodes-to-extend-life-of-dies/)