The technology for making coins involves three main steps after melting and refining the metal: preparing sheets of metal, cutting the sheets into blanks, and striking the blanks. From Greek and Roman times to the Renaissance, the technology employed in each step did not change. The metal, once brought to the desired standard, was hammered into a sheet, and then cut into squares with shears. The weight of each square was adjusted and it was then beaten into a round shape. The resulting blanks were then blanched to remove tarnish. Finally, the blanks were struck.