Steve, you are incorrect about the minting process. The blanks are already put together and the die is for the entire strike. The rims aren't made separately from the centers. Picture a blank bi-metalic round, with a silver center and brass rim that goes into the machine to be stamped. Look at the artwork for strike approvals, that artwork is what makes the entire die. If you can't picture that, think of a rotated die strike. Both the rim and silver are rotated exactly the same, that could not happen if they were stamped separately.

Dave.