How to Mint Coins

Gold Coins

Coins are made of gold, silver and various alloys. Typically, the metal is given a circular shape. The coin is stamped with a picture that generally carries symbolic significance. Writing on the coin denotes denomination, national origin, year of minting and other useful information.

Things You'll Need

• Metal strips Blanking press Annealing furnace Washer and dryer Upsetting mill Coining press Coin sizer

Instructions

1. Feed a metal strip through a blanking press. The blanking press punches out round circles, or blanks, that will become finished coins.

2. Heat the blanks in an annealing furnace. Annealing softens and strengthens the metal. Run the annealed blanks through a washer and dryer to give them a fresh and clean appearance.

3. Use an upsetting mill, to "upset" the edges of the coins. Upsetting is the raising of the rim all around the edge of a face of a coin. This will form a clear border for the coin design and also further strengthen the finished piece.

4. Strike the images on your coins by using a coining press. The coining press will imprint the appropriate designs and writing on each coin. Both heads and tails--or obverse and reverse--are struck at the same time.

5. Place the finished coins in a coin sizer. The coin sizer will screen out any odd-sized coins. These coins must be destroyed and minted again. Properly minted coins are placed into circulation.

Tips & Warnings

• Design coins with images that recall events of your country's past or honor particular individuals. Whether real or just fantasy, your country should have attractive coinage.

• Keep different sheets of metal separate. Different coins are cast from different metals and alloys.

References

• http://www.mycoincollecting.com/
• http://www.usmint.gov/index.cfm?flash=no
• http://numismatics.org/