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Ever try and make your own coin?

I've considered making a medal for my cubscout pack. I was considering a wax relief about 10 inches in diameter and then casting a plaster reverse. From there I am guessing I would need to transfer that to a die. An ideas about the best way to accomplish this?

What about a collar die how would I make a collar die? Can it be more of a containment ring or do I need to make it in pieces and have it close around the planchet when the shoe comes down.

Dan
I am just throwing cheese to the rats chewing on the chains of my sanity!

First Place Winner of the 2005 Rampage design contest!

Comments

  • TommyTypeTommyType Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭✭✭
    There's a book out now called, "Numismatic Forgery" that goes into great detail how to "mint" a counterfeit with fairly simple tools.

    If I remember correctly, I think the method he suggests for making dies is to fire the hub at the die stock with a shotgun??
    Easily distracted Type Collector
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,530 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>If I remember correctly, I think the method he suggests for making dies is to fire the hub at the die stock with a shotgun?? >>



    Oh, I bet that is the cause of some embarrassing explanations in the emergency room...

    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • meos1meos1 Posts: 1,135
    What? I know how to mount the die into the shoe and a shotgun is not in my plans.
    I am just throwing cheese to the rats chewing on the chains of my sanity!

    First Place Winner of the 2005 Rampage design contest!
  • TommyTypeTommyType Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Now I have to go find the book......

    Was an interesting read. Scarey, but I have a feeling getting good results isn't as easy as the author seemed to imply.
    Easily distracted Type Collector
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Can it be more of a containment ring >>



    That'll work. At the PNNA each year, they have a guy that makes tokens for the show. The reverse die is mounted in the bottom of the ring, the planchet is laid on it, the obverse die inserted on top, and then he strikes it with a heavy mallet.

    Russ, NCNE
  • meos1meos1 Posts: 1,135
    Now I have to go find the book......

    Well, I am sure you could transfer the image with that method. I am also sure you win a darwin award for it too. I think a pantograph with a HSS bit in a dremel tool on the tool steel side would work.
    I am just throwing cheese to the rats chewing on the chains of my sanity!

    First Place Winner of the 2005 Rampage design contest!
  • meos1meos1 Posts: 1,135
    Thanks Russ. It would make the die shoe assembly much simpler to use a static containment ring. I have access to a 60 ton press. Wonder what the pressure should be?

    Dan
    I am just throwing cheese to the rats chewing on the chains of my sanity!

    First Place Winner of the 2005 Rampage design contest!
  • ScarsdaleCoinScarsdaleCoin Posts: 5,223 ✭✭✭✭✭

    perhaps something like these would help!
    Jon Lerner - Scarsdale Coin - www.CoinHelp.com
  • flaminioflaminio Posts: 5,664 ✭✭✭
    RCC has made a number of tokens for the group. I only purchased the first two, but the designs got better and better. Check with George Huse over there for who did it for us and how much it cost.
  • TommyTypeTommyType Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Here a picture of a picture from the book.....Note the attempt to thwart the Darwin Award nomination by firing the gun remotely. image

    image

    Really, though, if you want to learn how to make your own coins, (whether you go the shotgun route or not), this is the book to check out.
    Easily distracted Type Collector
  • ScarsdaleCoinScarsdaleCoin Posts: 5,223 ✭✭✭✭✭
    two things......sorry the pics in my post did not work.....I have pm meos regarding a coin die on ebay for sale....I am not posting link since everyone seems to get upset with posts like that since this is not bst.....

    SECOND......I shoot Shotgun each week and help teach several times a year gun range safety......that is the DUMBEST thing I have ever seen........any person who has seen a wad stuck in a barrel and shot with the barrel blown will say the same thing .......you have to be a complete idiot to try something that stupid!
    Jon Lerner - Scarsdale Coin - www.CoinHelp.com
  • braddickbraddick Posts: 23,970 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Just be aware that much of the information the author gathered, he did so as a prison guard at a Utah prison. The subject who provided him with the 'do's and don'ts' is serving a life term for murder and forgery.

    peacockcoins

  • Scarsdale, read the book. You will find that he does greatly stress the danger of this method, plus he covers methods and some modifications to reduce the danger and the setup is such that when you actually fire the gun it is done remotely and you are not even in the same room with the shotgun just in case something DOES go wrong.

    As for the tonnage require for the striking, a lincoln cent or a dime are struck at about 40 tons, the nickel would be around 60 tons, If you token is larger than those then you will probably either need a larger press or a softer material for the token such as aluminum. With aluminum you could probably go to half dollar size or maybe even more.

    One problem you might have with a static collar and die setup is that after a good strike the token expands and is pressed tighly against the collar. So now you have the problem of how to get the token OUT of the collar. In the mint (and in the book Numismatic Forgery) they have the lower die rise up and force the token out of the collar. (Collar is fastened down.) You might see if the methods in the book would be adaptable to your setup.
  • BubbleheadBubblehead Posts: 1,621 ✭✭✭
    The Jefferson that Carl posted earlier; maybe it was made using the shotgun method??image

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