A visit with Dan Carr learning the coining process (Lakesammman, Zoins).

Sorry -- responded too soon. Thanks for answering that the planchets were annealed before regular strikes.

Sounds like a fun time.

Fascinating, I didn't see this thread when first posted, either, looks like a lot of fun and a real learning experience.

I mean really, if a piece of metal that is a blank planchet OR an overstrike is prepared for striking, what rules out procudurewise annealing of the blank/planchet/host coin?

Fantastic @Gluggo !

Host planchets or coins are sometimes annealed before the strike (or over-strike), if it is really necessary to achieve a full impression. None of these Oregon pieces were annealed, however.

@dcarr said:
Host planchets or coins are sometimes annealed before the strike (or over-strike), if it is really necessary to achieve a full impression. None of these Oregon pieces were annealed, however.

@dcarr, it sounds like the decision to anneal is on a case-by-case basis. I would love to see some examples or test trials of annealed vs not annealed, if you have any. I'm curious because I have a few favorite pieces where some host coin details show through the overstrike but I have no idea if they were annealed.

@dcarr said:
It was a fun visit and a lot was accomplished, via hard work and improvisation. The dies were nowhere near the proper shank configuration to fit in my coin press. So they had to be stacked (with a planchet in between) by hand for every strike. The coin press' upper anvil "slapped" the back of the upper die to induce the strikes.

So, basically recreating the millenia-old hammered coinage minting technique with 20th century equipment?