| Old hammered coins were made in the first | | | | make. After the die is stuck between the two |
| millennium BC using the hammered production | | | | dies, the upper die is hit with a hammer which in |
| method. As well as using the hammered method, | | | | turn imprints an image on both sides of the coin |
| many earlier coins were also made using a mould, | | | | which is derived from the embossed image on |
| where one mould was able to produce up to as | | | | both on the dies. |
| many as 30 coins at one time. The mould method | | | | The flan is usually taken from a mould in order to |
| is well known to have produced, what is known | | | | ensure that the measurements are exact. Despite |
| as as, a tree of coins which would usually have a | | | | efforts to make everything exact, that is not |
| central hole. From there the coins were individually | | | | always the case as we can see from the output. |
| broken off and called cash. The word cash, as we | | | | Many Celtic hammered coins, and English |
| know it today, originated from its colloquial use in | | | | hammered coins, appear less than perfect such |
| China many centuries ago. Although this method | | | | as ones that are off-centrer, have letter missing |
| was used in China up into the 19th century, the | | | | and some even have misspellings! |
| technique is no longer used today. | | | | As well as making hammered coins, some people |
| In England coins were made using the hammered | | | | made some money through taking as much as 1 |
| technique all the way through the reign of Charles | | | | gram off of the weight of a 6 gram coin. In fact, |
| II in the year 1662. Although that was the main | | | | the extent to which this went on can be best |
| method of production up until then, around a | | | | understood by the sheer volume of old Charles |
| century before milled coins were slowly evolving | | | | 1st coins that are not fully round, and that do not |
| in both the standards which they could be made | | | | have their legend fully in view. |
| to, and the methods that were being used to | | | | The process by which hammered coins are made |
| make them. | | | | has played a role in the evolution of other |
| In order to make a hammered coin a blank piece | | | | manufacturing technology. Much like anything, |
| of metal, also known as a flan or planchet, is | | | | there is usually a clear demand for a certain |
| placed between two dies. The type of metal that | | | | method of production which can then be applied |
| is used can alter depending on the output that | | | | throughout other manufacturing processes. |
| you require. For example, should you require | | | | Today, many museums allow tourists and visitors |
| hammered gold coins or hammered silver coins | | | | to make a coin through sticking a modern day |
| then you can simply use the metal of your | | | | coin, the flan, in a machine and then pulling a |
| chosing as the flan. The weight of metal that is | | | | handle, which operates the hammer like function, |
| stuck between the two dies alters depending on | | | | which in turn produces a souvenir. |
| the value of coin that the manufacturer wishes to | | | | |