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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;dougsmit, post: 7956908, member: 19463&quot;]Yes...but:&nbsp; If the disks were just held in place by friction and a coin were struck like the one here, I could see it doing considerable damage to the die making repair to the hinged holder a big job.&nbsp; Perhaps more care was taken to avoid this than was, for example, to avoid simple clashes or brockages.&nbsp; I would fear that a solid attachment would make changing out the design inserts more complicated (slower) and I do believe we would all be shocked at how fast a pace was used making these coins. I doubt anyone has ever tried to replicate this system.&nbsp; Whenever you see modern mint recreations, we see people doing it like the medieval engravings show.&nbsp; What is the oldest illustration showing mint operation?&nbsp; This weekend at the coin show I was asked what kind of hammer I thought was used to strike these coins.&nbsp; I do not know BUT I suspect that sestertii and tetradrachms had a full size sledge while AE4, obols and medieval pennies may have been done differently.&nbsp; I even believe that a hammer with a curved head would be easier on the wrists and, whether it was your wrist or that of your slave, making technical advances as needed would be part of the job.&nbsp; I guarantee you one thing.&nbsp; We do not know all we would like to know about all this but we have learns things in the last 50 years.&nbsp; I do not see that changing.&nbsp; I only hope our great grandchildren have the opportunity to study these questions and come up with things beyond our dreams.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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