How to Design a Coin Mold

Design your own coin mold on an eraser.

A coin mold can be carved from erasers for molding with polymer clays as the coin body. Once the mold is made, endless amounts of coins can be pressed from the same mold. It takes time to whittle away small portions of the mold to achieve small details. If you do not feel confident with your drawing abilities, use the computer to help you create images and lettering for your coin mold.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil
• Eraser
• Masking tape
• Carbon paper
• Razor blade knife

Instructions

1. Design your coin on paper. Decide what size, image and lettering you want to have on your finished coins. You may want different designs for each side of your coin.

2. Choose an eraser for your mold. Pink and Mars are two varieties of erasers that work well for carving.

3. Place a piece of carbon paper between your design paper and the eraser. Secure to the eraser with masking tape.

4. Trace the lines of your design so they are transferred to the eraser surface.

5. Cut around the outside edge of the transferred coin design with a razor blade knife. Leave 1/16 of extra space around the circumference of the design.

6. Carve away the areas you want to be raised on the coin. If you carve the space around a letter or image, the raised areas will be sunk in the final coinage.

7. Cut down at a slight angle so a firm base will remain beneath the carving. Do not make your cuts too deep because clay may get caught in these deep gouges when you press the coins.

Tips & Warnings

• A partially baked piece of polymer clay can also be fashioned into a coin mold.

• Use sharp blades.

• Exercise caution when using sharp tools.

References

• Do It Yourself Polymer Clay Geocoins: by Mountain Mudbug
• Polymerclayweb: Pirate Coins