prägning

Prägning is a term used in Germanic languages to describe the process of forming a design on a material by pressing it between dies. In coinage contexts, it refers to minting coins, while in broader craft and manufacturing it denotes embossing or relief stamping on metals, paper, leather and other substrates. The term is used in German as Prägung and in Swedish as präning or prägning.

The basic idea of prägning is to transfer a design from a die to a blank material. In coin production, the blank, or planchet, is placed between a pair of dies that carry the design in relief (positive image) or negative form. When pressure is applied by a press, the metal flows and the design is impressed onto the surface, creating raised or recessed features. Over time, technologies evolved from manually struck coins with hammers to screw presses and then to hydraulic and pneumatic presses, enabling greater speed, consistency, and security features in modern minting.

Applications of prägning extend beyond coinage. It is used to produce medals, tokens, seals, badges and decorative metalwork, as well as embossing on paper, leather and plastics. The technique can incorporate additional features such as bi-metallic compositions, edge lettering, and micro-engraving to deter counterfeiting or enhance aesthetics. The specific methods and materials vary by industry, but the common principle remains: shaping a design by pressing a die into a substrate under high pressure.

See also: embossing, stamping, die engraving, coinage, minting.