Coinage: history and characteristics of the process

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The article tells about what coinage is, what equipment is used for this, and also touches upon the issue of making souvenir coins.

Ancient times

Since time immemorial, people have been engaged in trade, in the course of which it became necessary to create a universal exchange equivalent - money. Initially, their role was played by precious metals, or rather, their bars (these were called “hryvnias” and were used in Russia), wire or just pieces. But, soon they were replaced by coins with a fixed weight and, as a result, a face value. They were also made from precious metal, and coinage was an invariable attribute of every strong state. Naturally, the appearance of the coins varied greatly, depending on the country or region.

Our time

And with the advent of paper money in our lives, the coins were not forced out of circulation. However, almost all over the world they are now made from ordinary iron or a non-ferrous metal alloy.

Such a process as minting coins in Russia is carried out by the State Mints. The appearance of coins has always directly depended not only on the era, but alsofrom the political system in the country. Representatives of different political regimes in the course of history put their banknotes into circulation with the corresponding paraphernalia. But, in addition to purely practical production, there is another type that has an important cultural and historical significance - this is the minting of souvenir coins.

Often they include commemorative ones, which are also valid banknotes, but differ from the rest in engraving or shape. Most often, their release is timed to coincide with some historical event in the world or country. And souvenirs, as such, have value only as collectible exhibits. But sometimes they are also made from precious metals such as silver or gold. Of course, you won’t be able to pay with them in a store, but you can exchange them at a bank for an equivalent value if you wish, or sell them at a pawnshop.

Now, by the way, private firms are also engaged in the production of souvenir coins. The range of their services is very wide, ranging from drawing up a unique sketch, ending with direct transfer to the workpiece. The material can also be selected.

Production

In fact, the term "coinage" is not entirely correct. This was the name given to the process of transferring an image to a workpiece by means of a hammer blow. But this method is inefficient in industrial production and is suitable only for making small money. In addition, the image often came out blurry.

Now, in the manufacture of coins, they use the so-called priming (applying strips to the edges) and embossing, when usingpress on the workpiece is transferred to the desired pattern.

Initially, in the Middle Ages, screw presses were used, when embossing took place through the rotation of the levers, but the process is long, and is not suitable for industrial production of coins.

But at the beginning of the 19th century, an engineer Nevedomsky in St. Petersburg created a machine for chasing with a cranked lever. Its productivity was approximately 70 coins per minute, which was already more suitable for streaming money making.

Coin minting. Industrial and hobby equipment

To put it simply, industrial equipment is the same press, but with a high degree of automation. In his work, the main criteria are high speed of work and the absence of marriage.

Amateur equipment is a compact device with much lower performance. But image quality is paramount. Many companies offer such machines, so anyone can start producing their own souvenir coins.

True, do not forget that counterfeiting of existing banknotes is punishable by law.