MegD4Freedom
Member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2010
- Messages
- 58
I figured this would be a great informative post to put here. It's an AmagiMetals.com original!
For thousands of years civilizations have been producing coins to use as a medium of exchange. Although technology has significantly improved, the production process to create gold and silver coins is quite similar to the way people, like the Romans, created theirs. They melted down metal, poured it into the desired shapes and divided it in pieces to be used as different denominations. Today we follow the same process, yet much faster and very intricate designs can be accomplished. All with the help of some extraordinary machinery and software.
We thought we’d travel back a month or so to the making of Amagi’s first, custom round:
As a precious metals dealer for over four years, we were thrilled to take on the task of creating our own round to represent our company. We had a few things in mind when doing so: we wanted something catchy, to give our customers what they wanted and to encapsulate a timeless message - because, as you know, silver lasts. And so began the creative process toward our custom End the Fed, one troy ounce round. Our graphics partner, Rob Nair, put together an impressive design we loved and raised some controversy.
As most of you know, we deviated from the Federal Reserve logo to better represent the central bank. Instead of the majestic eagle on the top of the building we added a vulture and some carrion beneath with some accurate words to represent what they have done to the US Dollar. Now that the message and the passion behind the round is ready...it’s time to head to the mint, Regency Mint that is!
At the mint artwork is taken and drawn in a program called AutoCAD, a 2D/3D design software. The file is then converted into G-Code (a machine automated language) so the CNC (computer numerical control) mill can engrave the dies, which will later stamp the silver. It cuts out the design on dies that are made, typically, of steel. Two dies are made for rounds/coins: the obverse and the reverse. The obverse is the main side, with the most prominent artwork. The reverse typically has artwork plus specifications about the round/coin.
Many companies or individuals want the dies to last forever because the cost can range from $1,000-2,500 for the dies, thus an extra step is taken to heat treat the dies to improve durability. The dies are lastly polished up to a desired finish making them ready for the next step.
Next stop is the .999 pure silver strips to punch blanks out of! Regency only uses refined, .999 assayed silver (something you’ll find in most major mints as well) but always ask! It’s truly amazing to watch the silver shot - small granules of .999 pure silver - being poured into the furnace.
Once the metal reaches its melting temperature, 1763 degrees to be exact, it is casted into long strips. The strips are then rolled into 2" wide x 0.25" thick x 4 ft. long bars then rolled down to a skinnier thickness making them longer in length.The strips are then fed through the blanking machine that punches out blanks. Each blank is then weighed individually to ensure that it is at least one troy ounce round.
The blanks begin to harden so they must be annealed (softening the metal with heat). The blanks then cool off and are polished, making them ready for pressing! Everything is brought to the stamping machine where the dies are inserted into the press in a "Top to Top" orientation, which means that the front and back of the medallion both face up. The press then packs a 360 ton punch to each blank, and after a careful process of inspection the rounds are packaged and shipped to us!
For those of you who would like to mint a silver round for your company or project, feel free to reach out with any questions. We’d be happy to help 1-800-882-8496 or email us at [email protected]! Happy creating and stacking!
Special thanks to Regency Mint in Utah for the awesome pictures!
For thousands of years civilizations have been producing coins to use as a medium of exchange. Although technology has significantly improved, the production process to create gold and silver coins is quite similar to the way people, like the Romans, created theirs. They melted down metal, poured it into the desired shapes and divided it in pieces to be used as different denominations. Today we follow the same process, yet much faster and very intricate designs can be accomplished. All with the help of some extraordinary machinery and software.
We thought we’d travel back a month or so to the making of Amagi’s first, custom round:
As a precious metals dealer for over four years, we were thrilled to take on the task of creating our own round to represent our company. We had a few things in mind when doing so: we wanted something catchy, to give our customers what they wanted and to encapsulate a timeless message - because, as you know, silver lasts. And so began the creative process toward our custom End the Fed, one troy ounce round. Our graphics partner, Rob Nair, put together an impressive design we loved and raised some controversy.
As most of you know, we deviated from the Federal Reserve logo to better represent the central bank. Instead of the majestic eagle on the top of the building we added a vulture and some carrion beneath with some accurate words to represent what they have done to the US Dollar. Now that the message and the passion behind the round is ready...it’s time to head to the mint, Regency Mint that is!
At the mint artwork is taken and drawn in a program called AutoCAD, a 2D/3D design software. The file is then converted into G-Code (a machine automated language) so the CNC (computer numerical control) mill can engrave the dies, which will later stamp the silver. It cuts out the design on dies that are made, typically, of steel. Two dies are made for rounds/coins: the obverse and the reverse. The obverse is the main side, with the most prominent artwork. The reverse typically has artwork plus specifications about the round/coin.
Many companies or individuals want the dies to last forever because the cost can range from $1,000-2,500 for the dies, thus an extra step is taken to heat treat the dies to improve durability. The dies are lastly polished up to a desired finish making them ready for the next step.
Next stop is the .999 pure silver strips to punch blanks out of! Regency only uses refined, .999 assayed silver (something you’ll find in most major mints as well) but always ask! It’s truly amazing to watch the silver shot - small granules of .999 pure silver - being poured into the furnace.
Once the metal reaches its melting temperature, 1763 degrees to be exact, it is casted into long strips. The strips are then rolled into 2" wide x 0.25" thick x 4 ft. long bars then rolled down to a skinnier thickness making them longer in length.The strips are then fed through the blanking machine that punches out blanks. Each blank is then weighed individually to ensure that it is at least one troy ounce round.
The blanks begin to harden so they must be annealed (softening the metal with heat). The blanks then cool off and are polished, making them ready for pressing! Everything is brought to the stamping machine where the dies are inserted into the press in a "Top to Top" orientation, which means that the front and back of the medallion both face up. The press then packs a 360 ton punch to each blank, and after a careful process of inspection the rounds are packaged and shipped to us!
For those of you who would like to mint a silver round for your company or project, feel free to reach out with any questions. We’d be happy to help 1-800-882-8496 or email us at [email protected]! Happy creating and stacking!
Special thanks to Regency Mint in Utah for the awesome pictures!
