The Production of an Ancient Coin
The production of coins in the ancient world could almost be described as an art form. In fact, specialized craftsmen called "moneyers" had to be authorized to mint coins, and the process required that the mintmaster work in conjunction with his assistant in order to assure that the coins were struck in rapid succession before the heated metal fully hardened.5 (pp. 20-24)
|
This modern man makes his money "the old fashioned way." (http://www.pnna.org/convention_report_2004.html) |
This involved process began with the preparation of metal; for all ancient coins consisted of some amalgam of metals that had to be melted and mixed. Pure gold and silver were each too soft to hold shape as coins. By convention, silver and copper were added to gold, bronze was added to silver, and lead and zinc were added to bronze.5 (pp. 20-24)
Silver Coin of Selinus, c. 450 BCE |
Gold dinar of Offa Kingdom of Mercia, England, AD 773-96 |
Egyptian Bronze Coin Featuring Lighthouse of Alexandria |
| http://www.vroma.org/images/mcmanus_images/frumentumcoin.jpg | http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass/resources/image/large/ps139915.jpg | http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/pharos7.jpg |
A Cast |
|
| http://www.classicalcoins.com/page103.html |
The blank discs, called
“flans,” which all remained connected by the thin strips of metal
that had filled the channels, were then removed from the mold after cooling.5
(20 - 24)
From here, the moneyers used the strips in the process of striking and thereby
stamping the actual design onto the flans. The metal stamps that imparted
these designs, called dies, had to be composed of a metal much harder than
that of the flan in order for them to leave crisp imprints without they themselves
being destroyed in the process. Bronze dies stamped gold coins while iron
was required for silver and bronze.5
(pp. 20-24)
|
An Afghani Die |
An English Die |
A Roman Die |
| http://www.vosper4coins.co.uk/ancient_coins/Die/DieAfg.htm | http://www.exeter.gov.uk/timetrail/object_images/7_34.jpg |
http://www.barakatgallery.com/Auction/ItemImgs/9010T.jpg |
Because each side of the coin (obverse and reverse) was struck with different designs, two separate dies were used. The first (obverse die) was set into an anvil while the strip of flans was heated until soft, so that the dies would leave deeper impressions. When ready, the mintmaster’s assistant would remove the strip of flans from the fire, placing the first in the series atop the die in the anvil. With the second die (reverse die) and a heavy hammer, the mintmaster almost simultaneously set the die on top of the flan and struck it with the hammer. Lifting it, his assistant would pull the strip along, and the mintmaster would continue striking the remaining flans. Placement of these dies determined the obverse and reverse of the coin because striking with the reverse caused the obverse side of the coin to become more convex and the reverse side to be more concave.5 (pp. 20-24)
The Striking Process |
http://www.classicalcoins.com/page103.html |
The ancient minting process resulted in a variety of errors still visible on some pieces today. Moving as rapidly as possible, the men often struck the coins off-center. Other coins retain projections remaining from the metal that once joined the flans or have flat edges where the strips were once severed. If dies cracked or broke, several imperfect coins frequently emerged before the damage was discovered, and moneyers were also prone to double-strike coins. If a flan got stuck in either of the dies, the next flan would only be struck properly on one side. An imprint of the trapped coin would show up on the next coin.5 (pp. 20-24)
Reverse of a Year OneRevolt Coin, struck off center |
Evidence of a cracked die sits beneath the chalice's edge, running down and to the left from the leftmost pearl on the rim. |
http://www.menorahcoinproject.org/h654.htm |
http://www.menorahcoinproject.org/h662.htm |
