A bit ago I got some steel and had an idea to mint my own coin. Creating a die is not that easy I can tell you and I believe I failed to get even close to the quality of impression that I was hoping for. I have not given up as I have another method I am going to try that might allow me to get a better image on the steel...but this is the best strike of quite a few attempts. Not pretty I know...but I will keep trying: Its supposed to be a Wotan. If I ever get a process down that produces a decent impression I am going to write it up to help other who might like to play around with minting...thats a big IF. This coin does have a reverse, its a floral design that did not come out right either.
I like it and would like to see a pic of the rev. if possible. What material are your dies made of and how did you temper them? Have you considered making it of another metal or alloy? Might strike up easier. Also, how big/thick is it? Looking forward to future posts on this. Good work!
Sweet! Very nice Anglo-Saxon style. I thought of doing this myself. What are the dies made of? What did you engrave them with?
I woudnt call it a failed attampt at all, It certainly looks rather good :bow: but why not try using copper or some other softer metal after all hammerd were not done on steel so why make life hard for yourself LOL And as for style rather Celtic in apperance to my eye :kewl:
Looks like a very nice attempt to me :high5: I think it would be easier if you tried hammering on a planchet of gold.
That is a great looking attempt! In fact, it looks better than many of the so-called real Hammered coins on eBay! On the other hand, if humanity gets knocked back into the Medieval or Pre-Medieval period, then you have a jump start on anyone else deciding to mint their' own coins. Frank
Well, thanks!! That picture of the guy minting above is pretty much how I did it save I had a lower die and I use an old tree stump to do my hammering. I drilled a hole in the stump, lined the hole with a steel pipe, place my lower die in the hole, then the planchet, then put the top die on and hammer as hard as I can. The physical act of minting the coin I have down...no problem...its the preparation of the die that is so difficult. I guess I was just disappointed as I did not get as refined of an image as I was wanting. I believe I still can but it will require more trial and error and tweaking the technique I am using. I used 6" x 3/4" steel rods as dies...I hammered newly cooled pewter which is rather soft...I plan to do some in silver if I can get the process down better. The way I am using right now to get the image on the die is a pretty long process (which is why its frustrating when it doesn't work and I have to start again). I coat the die with acid resist, trace my image onto the small 3/4" tip, remove the acid resist with a small stylus in the places where I want to burn, then give it a dip in an acid mixture. I then remove the remaining acid resist and clean the die, heat some pewter, make a planchet using a 3/4" reservoir in casting clay...while it is still hot I strike it. Now this is a very tedious process and since I started I have learned of something called Photoresist. It acts like acid resist but it is photo sensitive, much like the way they prepare a silk screen...it is used to etch in to glass, circuit boards, etc...I have seen people using it on zinc and copper as well as steel. It appears you can produce very refined lines (much like those on circuit boards) as well as gradients. Apparently I might be able to coat my die with this photoresist, transfer my image onto clear plastic sheet, affix it to the die, the expose it to light...a soak in a chemical will cause the area exposed to be removed (or the area not exposed depending on the type of resist) leaving my design ready to burn. I was told this will keep me from having to etch every die by hand and it will transfer my design EXACTLY as I have designed it...and not what I manage to get after etching the tiny details by hand. this will help big time with transferring text which is already hard to do but made even harder because it must be mirrored. I am going to try this method and with hope this might allow me to produce a finer image...I also still have to solidify a good acid mixture and dip time so the acid does not react to the metal too violently and burn to fast, wide and deep (like the example above). Too strong of acid causes the lines to spread and thicken too much and then you lose details as they spread into each other...too weak and then you have to leave it in REAL long and still I end up getting a weak image... I think I am getting there...I am hoping to mint a coin for my daughter (though I am looking to get a professionally done token for that now...I just want it perfect), and one for my family as well as some fantasy ideas I have had...I was also thinking that if I get this process down better I could mint a CT coin I will try this other method and maybe I will even try to etch directly into the steel die with my diamond tipped stylus, see what type of results I get there...though I prefer not to have to try to do text and fine images by hand on the small tip of the die...its real hard and I am no great artist Props to the ancients as this is not easy. I will certainly report back if I make more progress thanks again. Oh...I will post the reverse when I get home...I have two reverse, one burned too much, the other not enough.
Really makes you appreciate what the ancient celators did, doesn't it? You're lucky you have steel dies to use, not just iron or bronze!
Failure? I think that looks very cool, and I'm sure it was a real learning experience. :thumb: I'm sure I'd have a new appreciation for die making after making that.
I think you did a heckuva job Dru - my hat's off to ya :thumb: And as you know, I don't ever take off my hat
Drusus, The photoresist use for printed circuit boards might not take strong acids. It was used with potassium ferrocyanide solution if I remember how I made PC boards decades ago. There was also "resist tape" of varying width one could use for similar purposes. Sandblaster people ( like for grave stones) have a photoresist resist material that can be used to etch markings into stone. That might withstand the acid better. I really am impressed! Jim
Drusus, I will weigh in and opin that you DID NOT FAIL, you succeeded. The piece is actually pretty good - for a ca. 8-9th century style coin of the Visigoths. When I was hammering coins secretly in my grandfathers workshop I didn't do as well, especially with silver. I still have all the dies I made, used aluminium and bronze. Using steel was just too much work and involved more cleanup. I had to do this when nobody else was home, I wasn't allowed to be in the shop. I have some hammered silver that I bought last year, medals etc. that are just very lovely - Created by someone a lot more skilled than myself, and part of the sell off of Joe Rust - Gallery Mint stuff a few years ago.
wow...that is very nice...looks to me like hand engraved die...If I could get even CLOSE to that I would think I suceeded in minting. I have been contemptlating trying to hand engrave it (which would require tools and a REAL learning curve)....maybe hand for the image and acid for the lettering...we will see.
