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Message:: [QUOTE="John Anthony, post: 2259873, member: 42773"]Super Chris! Thank you. Here's the relevant passage from that link. It doesn't sound like English is that author's first language, but he does a good job of describing the process nonetheless... "Manufacturing technology of the bracteates was gradually simplified. The intermediate coin between the bilateral denarius and bracteates is so-called thin penny or half-brakteates. This type of a coin appeared by itself. The weight of the denarius was constantly decreasing, and the diameter of the coin remained unchanged. Because of this the circle of coins had become so thin that the image on the obverse and reverse appeared on opposite sides, thereby distorting each other. The solution was found in the one-sided mintage. Round pieces of the required weight were cut out of a thin sheet of flattened metal. In order to make the silver foil coin acquire its stiffness and gain the ability to keep its shape, the print had to have a fairly high relief. First of all, this required a stamp, with deep relief. To prevent the piece from breaking during the coinage, some pliable base like lead, tin, felt or leather was put under the metallic circle. The result was a coin with a very dimensional image, the lines of which served as ribs, prolonging the short life of bracteates."[/QUOTE]