Subject: Re: Reviving the Art of Ancient Coinmaking

From: [email-masked] (Morgan Hall)
Date: 1 Nov 1995 07:09:54 -0800

In article <[email-masked]>,
Robert Holder <zlme05@mcbuexpl> wrote:
>Ever since I got my first sets of catalogs from the Classical
>Numismatic Galleries and Edward Waddell, and saw
>the amazing variety of ancient greek coinage, I have wondered
>to myself, "How the heck did they get such fine detail with
>the toolmaking technology of the day?"
>...
>The question then becomes this:  where do I go to find out how
>to do this?  I've seen a number of books on ancient coinage, and
>they tend to be somewhat dry and academic, not to mention often
>in German or some other language.  What I need is a how-to book
>on ancient metalworking written for the layman.  

The classic references here are De Re Metallica, the Pirotechnica,
On Divers Arts, and the works by Benvienuto Cellini.  They are all
available in inexpensive translations, and I think Lindsay carries them
all.  Get the Lindsay catalog on metalworking for this information in
"modern" (1900) terms.
>...
>The learning process for this project promises to be long, and I am
>sure that the equipment required will be expensive, so I realize that
>I will probably not mint my first drachm or stater for several
>years, but if anybody has any ideas where I can find information
>for this project, please let me know.
>
>Thanks!
>
>Robert Holder
>
>

Robert -- I would suggest that you contact someone in the SCA (society
for creative anachronism).  Send me your geographical location and I'll
try to get you a local contact.  Here in the Northwest (Oregon,
Washington, BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan) we have an active moneyer's
guild that produces and strikes period style coins.  The equipment
required is amazingly inexpensive.  We're not talking high tech here!
Most must be made or traded for.  Practice strikes are usually in pewter
with strikes in gold or silver less common due to expense.  This area,
the Kingdom of An Tir, has had several issues of commemerative coins to
mark various reigns and occasions.

I believe that there is activity of a similar nature in other kindoms as
well, and when I find where you live, I can investigate further.  You
may be closer to your first project than you think!

Morgan

-- 
[email-masked]

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From: [email-masked] (John Kelly)
Date: Thu, 02 Nov 95 18:35:00 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] (Rick Cook) wrote:
>Another candidate for the Lindsay catalog (address in faq)
>
>As to how you do it -- striking the coins is easy. The hard part is making
>the dies. 

There is a type of metal knowen as Kirtsite which has a melting temp in the 
500 F. range.  It is sometimes used in metal production shops for short run 
stamping of items such as silver.  Quite hard to my understanding.  You may 
have to look for it through Jewelry or Machine Shop speciality stores.

A coin could easly be carved or machined into High density carbon such as is 
used in EDM machining (POCO).  This could be pressed into a melted plate of 
Kirtsite and left untill the metal cooled.  Instant (almost) coin die.

Remember, no undercuts in your positive image.