Definição

• Transfer Die.  An intermediate die made by hubbing a numismatic or medallic design in hard metal or a previous die; in a sense copying the design from any source to be transferred to a new working die. Such copying will be the exact size, as hubbing cannot enlarge or reduce the design. A transfer die is usually made when a pattern for cutting a fresh die is not available and is often a last resort to save a design for future striking. Should a die break, for example, the normal procedure would be to go back to a previous generation from the die and made a new one. This would be a hub – if one was made – or a dieshell or master pattern – if the die was cut pantographically – or if none of these were in existence the original plaster model could be used to make a new dieshell then cut a new working die. (If the broken die was handcut then, obviously, an engraver would have to handcut another.)
  A transfer die is often made from an existing working die which is impaired in some way, but from which the image can be saved and reproduced – by hubbing – with the intent of making a new working die. The transfer die would exhibit all the wear and imperfections of the original, however, sometimes the break will disappear. A transfer die is not a copy die, which is a new die made by any process other than by hubbing.
  How a transfer die is made.  If a working die is about to break, or if the break has occurred and the break is sharp enough (no part broken away), the die can be bound together again and kept under heavy constraint while it is hubbed. Hubbing requires tremendous pressure so keeping the broken die in place under pressure is critical. This is accomplished with a hubbing retainer. A blank die (in softened state is hubbed with this die; the hub is then hardened, and in turn, hubbed with a working die.
  The original (broken) die is negative; the hub is positive; the new working die is negative. Thus most transfer dies are positive and look like the original hub (if there was one) but the transfer die will exhibit the worn condition of the original from which it was reproduced. Infrequently some touchup will be required on the hub of working die, such die retooling will be done to sharpen images or letter, or perhaps, to remove the line left by any break. Retooling, of course, creates minute variations in the die causing varieties in the struck pieces, earlier pieces will differ from later strikes. Numismatists like to identify these various stages and record the varieties.

  excerpted with permission from

  An Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology

  For Artists, Makers, Collectors and Curators

  COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY D. WAYNE JOHNSON

  Roger W. Burdette, Editor

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