Mini-Mint demonstrations part of free Saturdays at Money Museum
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 rises 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.
The
American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered
nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging people to
study and collect money and related items. The ANA helps its 28,000
members and the public discover and explore the world of money through
its vast array of education and outreach programs, as well as its
museum, library, publications, conventions and seminars. For more
information, call 719-632-2646 or go to www.money.org.
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. 
