New Orleans US Mint 1897

[River Rat]

When planchets (basically blank coins) for gold/silver coins were made the weight might not be exactly perfect. These women would file them down to the correct weight before they were minted and released.

 

[jeff of pa]

LOL I wonder how often they went home & Cleaned their Fingernails

of course Biting their nails and Panning in the Bathroom the next morning after coffee
may work too