Münzprägeln

Münzprägen, or coin minting, is the process of producing coins, typically for use as currency. This ancient craft has evolved significantly over centuries, from simple hand striking to highly automated industrial processes. Historically, coins were made by placing a blank metal disc, called a planchet, between two dies. One die, the obverse die, featured the design for one side of the coin, and the other, the reverse die, featured the design for the other side. A hammer strike would then impress the designs onto the planchet.

Early methods were labor-intensive and often resulted in irregularly shaped coins with off-center designs. Over time, various improvements were introduced, including screw presses and later, steam-powered and hydraulic presses, which allowed for greater precision, speed, and uniformity. Modern coin minting utilizes sophisticated machinery. Metal strips are fed into blanking presses that cut out perfectly round planchets. These planchets are then annealed, or heated and cooled, to soften them and prevent cracking during striking. They are also often burnished to achieve a smooth surface.

The striking process itself is now highly automated, with high-speed presses capable of producing hundreds of coins per minute. Each press contains dies made of hardened steel, engraved with the intricate designs required by the issuing authority. Quality control is a crucial part of the modern minting process, with automated systems and human inspectors checking for imperfections in the struck coins. The resulting coins are then counted, bagged, and prepared for distribution to financial institutions.