| In year eighteen, the first (and only) problem
with a Danbury Mint ornament,
to my recollection, occurred with the incredibly delicate annual issue
of the Clipper Ship.
Shortly after the holidays, Danbury
Mint notified its
collectors that a problem with the base metal used to make the annual ornament
would cause it to tarnish. Beginning with the original Angel issued nineteen
years ago in 1976, no ornament had ever experienced any discoloration.
But, true to Danbury Mint’s desire for perfection, each Clipper ship was replaced
and the defective ships returned to Danbury Mint.
I had an unusual situation. I had just finished
packing my ornaments in preparation for a house move. Danbury Mint’s request for the
ornament to be returned would cause me to go through my 90+ moving boxes
to locate the ship. Danbury Mint told me to wait and return the ship when I
decorated our new house for that upcoming holiday season.
When I opened the moving boxes, there was the
Clipper Ship, safe but terribly tarnished. It was nearly black. The replacement
was shining as beautifully as you would expect, and continues to do so.
Thank you, Danbury Mint, for being so conscientious
in design and production. |
