FAIRBANKS COIN CLUB STRIKES HAMMERED COINS

At the August 4th meeting of the Fairbanks Coin Club, President Mike Schmetzer gave a presentation on British hammered coinage. His presentation revealed how the history of England could be traced through its hammered coins, from the early 600s AD to the late 1600s when they were replaced by milled coinage.

This presentation was followed by a demonstration of hand hammering coins (1 gram pure silver tokens). Club members had the opportunity to hand strike their own token. Dick Hanscom prepared the dies featuring a “long cross” and a few abbreviations of Latin terms for royalty. While not fully accurate, it reflects what might have been on a medieval coin.

The long cross divides the token into quarters. Lettering is found inside each quarter as follows: ISAB / D.G. / REG. / IMP. Translated this would be Isabella (Mike’s daughter) / Dei Gratia (by grace of God) / Regina (queen) / Imperator (Empress). Also inside the quartered sections is the date 2015, arranged by clock positions 12-6-9-3.

The reverse has a star in the center, with SCHMETZLANDIA around the rim.

Two or three strikes with a 3# or 8# hammer resulted in their own token from Schmetzlandia.

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web