The process of getting a person's face on a coin involves meticulous planning and various stages of coin production. Here's a general overview of the steps:
1. Design and Approval:
- The decision to feature a particular person on a coin is made at the government or central bank level.
- A talented artist or designer creates the initial design, often called the "plaster model" or "master model."
- The design undergoes rigorous review and approval by the relevant authorities, which can include historical, cultural, and artistic experts.
2. Coin Sculpting:
- Once approved, the selected design is further refined and sculpted by a skilled engraver.
- This process involves intricate detailing and careful manipulation of the face, ensuring that all features are accurately captured and proportionate.
- The resulting sculpture is called the "final model" or "master die."
3. Die Production:
- The final model is used to create steel dies, known as "master hubs." These are the negative counterparts of the coin design.
- The master hubs are further used to create working dies, which are exact duplicates of the master dies and are used for stamping coins.
4. Minting:
- The coin minting process takes place at a specialized mint facility.
- The working dies are fitted into high-pressure presses called coining presses.
- Blank coin discs, known as "planchets," are fed into the presses.
- The dies apply immense pressure, stamping the design onto the planchets, resulting in the creation of the finished coins.
5. Post-Production Processes:
- The minted coins undergo a series of post-production processes to enhance their appearance and durability:
- Annealing: a controlled heating and cooling process to relieve stress and improve the coins' resistance to wear.
- Cleaning: the coins are cleaned to remove any residual oils or contaminants.
- Finishing: the coins may undergo additional treatments like polishing or plating to give them their final visual characteristics.
After these stages are completed, the coins are ready for circulation or can be packaged as commemorative items.