April 23, 2023
Minting coins in ancient times was a complex process that required skilled artisans to produce high-quality coins. The process involved several steps, from gathering and preparing the raw materials to inspecting the finished product.
The raw materials commonly used for ancient coins were copper, silver, and gold. These metals were melted down and purified before being cast into a mold to create a rough blank coin, or flan. The mold was usually made of bronze or clay, and it had the image or design of the coin in negative relief.
Once the flan was created, it was then placed on an anvil, and the design was engraved onto the coin's surface using a hammer and a series of punches. These punches, also known as dies, were made of hardened steel or iron and had the design in relief, allowing it to be transferred to the flan when struck. This process required a high level of skill and precision, as the artisan had to strike the punches with just the right amount of force to transfer the design without damaging the flan.
After the design was completed, the edges of the coin were trimmed to create a smooth, even surface. This process, known as filing or milling, was done to prevent people from shaving off small amounts of metal from the edge of the coin, a practice known as "clipping." The edges of the coin were sometimes also inscribed with text, such as the name of the issuing authority or the denomination of the coin.
Finally, the coin was inspected for quality and weight. If the coin met the required standards, it was considered fit for circulation. The process of inspecting the coin was done using a balance scale, and the weight of the coin was compared to a standard weight to ensure that it was the correct weight. If the coin was too light, it was rejected and melted down to be reused in the minting process.
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