Die Struck vs Die Cast Coins

There are two primary methods of minting coins: striking and casting. A die struck coin is the most common method, where a blank planchet is pressed with an engraved stamp called a die to press the design into the coin. A die cast coin is made using a premade cast of the design and the metal is poured into the cast. Die cast coins are typically reserved for detailed, intricate designs, often three-dimensional. Medals are also made with die casting. However, some die struck coins are replicated using casts to create fake coins.

Die Struck Coins

History

Minting coins using the die striking method has existed since the sixth century BC. Ancient coins were shaped by hand and stamped using engraved dies by a hammer. These ancient dies were typically made of tempered bronze, tin, brass, or iron. Most coins are struck simultaneously on both sides with two different dies, creating the obverse and reverse. Hand striking coins with hammers lasted until the sixteenth century.

Over time, as coinage became increasingly popular for circulated currency and bullion collectibles, mints used machine-powered methods to strike coins with finely detailed dies more precisely and consistently.

Many coins with strike errors showcase the inconsistencies of using a handheld hammer and die, often resulting in off-center designs, cracks, double strikes, and uneven strikes. With our modern techniques, these errors are much less common.

Coins are not all struck using the exact same method, depending on their finish. Proof coins are struck twice, while others are struck only once. Circulated coins are struck with anywhere from 35 to 100 metric tons of pressure, depending on the denomination. Others are struck with up to 540 tons of force.

Today, die striking is the most widely used method of producing circulated and uncirculated coins across the globe.

The Process

How does die striking a coin work? The process is relatively simple:

First, the die is made:

1. A professional artist sketches the design.
2. Once finalized and approved, the design is sent to the mint to be sculpted.
3. The die cutter meticulously engraves the master die with the design.
4. The master die creates working dies.

When a working die wears out, the master die creates new ones. This preserves the integrity of the design and ensures consistency and quality.

Next, the coins are struck:

1. Coin blanks are heated to make them more malleable.
2. The raised rim to protect the design is created, turning the blank into a planchet.
3. The planchet is placed between two dies, one for the obverse and one for the reverse.
4. The dies strike with significant force to stamp the design into the planchet.
5. The planchet is now a coin.

This process has some nuances depending on the location and time period, but the methodology has followed these basic steps for centuries.

Die Cast Coins

History

The die cast method of creating coins originated in 400 BCE in China. The designs for the coins were created using molds, which were often made from clay or wax. Molten metal was poured into the cast and allowed to harden, creating the coin. In China, currency was made with a square hole in the middle for carrying them on a string.

Using a cast allows coins to be more finely detailed, three-dimensional, and often more error-free than struck coins. Today, die cast coins are usually commemorative and used for challenge coins. Medals, jewelry, and charms are also made using the die cast method.

Counterfeit Cast Coins

Cast molds of struck coins are one of the most commonly used methods of creating counterfeit coins. An authentic coin is pressed into sand, clay, or wax to get the design. Then, molten metal is poured into the mold to replicate the coin. Telling the difference between a cast replica and a genuine struck coin can be tricky, but sometimes there will be clear indicators:

• Grainy texture due to a sand mold.
• Seams along the outer edge where the two halves of the mold were attached.
• Weight difference: Genuine coins have specific weights, and many counterfeit coins are made using cheaper materials, so they likely won’t weigh the same as real precious metals.
• Ancient coins were never precisely alike due to the hammer die cast method, so a counterfeiter selling multiple coins that all look the same down to the ridge quality is a dead giveaway.

Are Struck Coins More Valuable Than Cast Coins?

Typically, struck coins are considered more valuable than cast coins. While die casting is cheaper and easier, it is slower than striking. Modern mints today can strike thousands of coins per day using efficient technology. Striking also ensures more security, as many coins today have built-in security features such as specific textures or hidden symbols to prevent counterfeiting. Cast coins are more easily replicated, which would lead to more counterfeiting.