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One interesting
coin fact is, How are
coins made ?
A design of a coin is made
and lots of test models go into making a coin. Once a
design is approved for minting, a plaster model of the coin is
made. When the plaster model is finished, an exact
duplicate of the coin is made into metal and a tracing lathe is
used to mill a master die. This die is then detailed and
finished by the engraver. This finished Master Die is now
used to make duplicate dies for minting the coins. These
duplicate dies are tempered (hardened) to increase the life of
the die.
Strips of a metal alloy called Zinc is used to produce
coins. The Zinc is plated with copper or nickel, for
pennies and nickels. Dimes, quarters, half dollars, and
dollars, are made with three metals. The outer material of these
are made of the same alloy used in nickels. The metal used
to make each of the coins is fed into a machine that make blank
coins. The blanks that are used to make pennies have
already been pressed and are manufactured outside the Mint to
their specifications. These blanks are then heated up to soften, and
then thoroughly cleaned and polished. The defective blanks
are removed and discarded, and then they are sorted into a
machine which puts the rim around there edges. They are
then sent to the presses to be stamped. Just so you know
both the front and back of the coins are pressed are the same
time. The coins are then inspected again for defects and
are sorted and put into bags for shipment.
A Second
interesting coin fact is, what are
coins made of?
Well in 1792, the United States Mint required that all coins
minted would be made of copper, silver, or gold. This was
the standard for over a hundred years, and in 1965 Congress
decided to stop using silver in Dimes and Quarters, and reduced
the amount of silver used in dollars and half dollars as well.
Well that was the past, what about today's coins, what are they
made of. Nickels, Dimes, Quarters, and Half Dollars are
made of copper and nickel of different percentages.
The Golden Dollar (Sacagawea) was made of copper, nickel,
zinc, and manganese.
We will be adding other interesting coin facts as time
progresses on. Check back with us at a later date, to
learn more interesting coin facts. |
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