Hey folks, I recently took a tour with a blind coin collecting friend of mine (yes, you read that right http://blindcoincollector.com/) at the Smithsonian's Numismatic Gallery. We've been discussing ways to get blind folks into coin collecting, or at least appreciate and understand coins. For my friend, he was interested in things he could touch and he seemed interested in the enlarged coins sold in the gift shop because he never really understood what a Lincoln cent looks like. We want to create a display for blind collectors that might even get shipped around the US to blind schools for students to handle. I would like to work on a project to get enlarged, possibly plate sized coins of pre 1995 US coins. Quarter, Cent, Nickel, etc. Maybe also some older ones like Wheat Cents, IHCs, Buffalo Nickel, and Barber. Does anyone have any recommendations on how to produce the best scaled examples of US coins at the cheapest prices? I would appreciate some brainstorming to see what we can come up with. I may return in a couple weeks seeing if anyone wants to donate money for the molds and/or coins to be given away to the blind collectors. Thanks for reading!
@dcarr If anyone could help with such a quest, I would think it him. If he's willing or not I do not know, but would like to think that, perhaps, he'd see it as a way to give more back to the hobby that's given him so much.
High relief coins, especially low grade ancients, provide a strong tactile effect that may be interesting. I think @Insider recently related a story of a collector of Greek coins who went through the display cases and picked out coins by touch. It may also be interesting to track down coins with Braille on them. There are a few, including at least one US coin that I'm aware of (which I just coincidentally posted in another, completely unrelated thread for another reason 30 seconds ago). I'm not entirely sure if a blind person can actually read the Braille on this coin, or if it is too small (may be something to ask your friend): :
That's very generous of you. I have a very large 1877 IHC replica that I could donate to the cause if you're interested. If so, I will post a pic of it next to a modern cent so you can get an idea of the size of it
@Parthicus @physics-fan3.14 actually, he collects the world Braille coins though he does lament how small they are making it hard to read. Enlarged coins are really the way to go, I'm just not sure the way to go about going about that way.
CRAZY idea.... but try contacting the mint. When a designer makes a new coin design, they usually work on computer models (nowadays), but I think they still make large plaster casts to get a physical idea of how the coin will look. They may be willing to work with you. In olden days, a designer would make a large plastic cast and then the Janvier reducing lathe would transfer and reduce this into steel. Maybe, if you convince them its a good idea, they can do the process in reverse? (or find some shop with a similar reducing lathe or CNC machine?)
3D printers won't be able to produce convincing counterfeits for a long time, if ever, but they could definitely produce enlarged copies of coins. Producing something plate-sized would be pretty time-consuming and expensive, but it would be possible. I haven't followed it closely, but I know work is being done to develop tactile-sensing surfaces to let robots feel what they're touching. I also know that there are tactile displays, basically large arrays of pins that can be raised or lowered. I hadn't thought about combining the two as a "Braille microscope", but I wonder...
Yes, this is EXACTLY what I am talking about. Close your eyes and run your fingers along the coin; I imagine you can feel every bit of detail on that coin. That's what my goal is for the blind folks
Thanks to @Mad Stax showing me his replica, I found this website and I think it could be just what I am looking for: http://www.jakesmp.com/Numismatic_novelties/NN_004_coin_replicas_M.html If I were to try to get members from CoinTalk to donate for this, what would be the best way to go about it? Post it in the "Want to Buy" listing?
What about VAMs for the blind? @Seattlite86, I have one of those 1877 Indians somewhere if you want it
Baby steps my friend, baby steps. I'm happy to take any of anyone's unwanted 3" replicas. If you find it, send me a PM and I'll send you my address. They will all be donated to the Smithsonian. The more I can receive from those who have and do not want, the less I need to purchase from the website I listed.
