The Mini-Mint
Come see how coins were made from the 1500s to early 1800s
A good screw press in the early 19th century had the ability to
generate 15 to 20 tons of pressure per strike and could produce
about 30 coins per minute. Not bad for a machine that had to be
operated by hand.
The public can see a smaller version of such a screw press in
action monthly at the American Numismatic Association's Edward C.
Rochette Money Museum. Museum staffers will be on hand from noon to
4 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month to demonstrate the
minting process and produce commemorative coins for museum visitors
to take home. The third Saturday of every month is Free Saturday at
the museum, where all exhibits are open to the public free of
charge.
"The Mini-Mint is a wonderful educational opportunity to see
exactly how coins were minted before the steam-powered press came
along," said Doug Mudd, curator at the Money Museum. "Through this
demonstration, we can teach patrons all about the basics of coin
minting and offer some great insight into the way coins are still
minted today."
During these demonstrations, visitors will learn about the
different parts of the screw press, including:
- The rolling mill, which is used to thin the metal used for the Money Museum's commemorative coins down to the correct thickness.
- The blanking press, which is used to create "blanks," or round pieces of metal that will eventually become the coin.
- The castaing machine, also called an edging mill, which is used to turn the blanks into "planchets." This is done by first "upsetting" the blank, or squeezing it so that the metal raises around the rim. The second function is to impress the edge design on the outer rim of the coin.
- The striking press, which is the machine used to strike the design of the coin onto the planchet and complete the minting process.
The Money Museum and Mini-Mint are also available for tour groups.
To book a tour, contact Donna Nunez at 719-482-9834 or nunez@money.org.