handstruck

The term "handstruck" primarily refers to a method of coinage where a blank piece of metal, known as a flan, was struck by a hammer against a die to impress an image or inscription. This was the dominant method of coin production for millennia, predating more mechanized processes. In handstruck coinage, a craftsman would manually place the flan on the lower die, which was usually fixed, and then strike the upper die, held in hand or by a hammer, onto the flan. The force and precision of the strike were crucial for creating a clear and durable coin.

This technique allowed for relatively rapid production compared to earlier methods like casting, but it also led to variations in strike quality and centering. Coins could be off-center, struck too weakly, or struck too hard, resulting in imperfections. Despite these limitations, handstruck coinage was the backbone of monetary systems worldwide for centuries.

The term "handstruck" is also sometimes used more broadly to describe any object or mark created by manual impact, such as the impressions left by hand-operated stamps or seals. In the context of numismatics, however, it specifically denotes the traditional hammer-striking process used for minting coins before the advent of screw presses and later, steam-powered and automated minting machinery. The transition from handstruck to mechanically produced coinage marked a significant advancement in efficiency, consistency, and security in the manufacturing of currency.