Minting Your Own Coins - Precious Metals, Base Metals... FamCore Needs Your Help!

This is a discussion with focus on precious metals (gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium), but also base metals (copper, zinc, etc.).

Non-Industrial Scale Metal Smelting/Coin Minting - How Would You Do This?

Let's just say I had an extra $50,000 (which I don't... i don't even have $5,000.. this is hypothetical), or whatever amount is necessary to buy the equipment and tools.. If I wanted to build my own system for melting down metals and minting my own coins, what would be required to do this? I'm wondering A) what knowledge/knowhow is needed to do this, and also B) what physical resources are required, other than of course the metal itself.

I want to know how you would create a smaller-scale minting operation - a setup where you could cast your own bullion or mint your own coins, maybe even to create coins with your own design on them.

Where would I find out more about this "fantasy" of mine?

Any advice or insights ATS has on this would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

PS If I become independently wealthy and you assist me with finding what is required to do this by contributing to this thread, I vow to send you one of my first "FamCore" exclusive coins Thank you!

a reply to: FamCore

I would use the lost wax method. Very easy to create the model and make multiples. I have done this actually with sterling making commemorative coins for a poker tourny.

en.wikipedia.org...

You can make your model/prototype out of carving wax then farm out the casting to a company that concentrates on that.



You can get everything you need here and get the casting done as well....been doing business with this outfit for 30 yrs...good people.

www.riogrande.com...

I have no advice but I really like the idea. It reminds of the reason we are friends.
a reply to: FamCore

a reply to: olaru12

That is an amazing idea - thank you so much for your input

I figured ultimately I would end up having to outsource some of the process, ideally I would like to be able to do it all in-house but if need be I may just have to do that.

When you made your commemorative coins did you use any particular service providers to make the cast/coins?

a reply to: FamCore

I've been looking into this recently myself.... i think it would be really neat to refine precious metals

I found this about a week ago... this video series called "cody's lab"

I was going to do a thread on it, but i'll just give it to you instead

a reply to: CulturalResilience

I'll keep you updated if I make any progress with this wild idea of mine. PS check your U2U!

a reply to: FamCore

When you made your commemorative coins did you use any particular service providers to make the cast/coins?

Yes, but I suggest you find a casting person/biz close to you so you can monitor the results and make changes if need be.

What metal do you plan on using?

When you have some results, send me one and I'll send you a "take no prisoners" tourny trinket.

Good luck. Metalsmithing is a kickass endeavor.

There was a excellent thread on this here on ATS several years ago. I'm going to see if I can't track it down.

My son owns 2 gold claims in Alaska and I routinely buy (or he gives me more often than not) a few ounces of placer everytime he comes back down to the lower 48.

I use this GPK microwave smelter (about half-way down linked page below) to mold the gold (about .900 +/- fine at that point) into 100 g rounds. I use a milligram scale and a nail file (don't laugh!) to get the rounds to exactly 100 g. the smelter molds have a dent in the bottom so if you file off too much, you can re-melt your filings and fill the cavity to your exact desired weight.

Supposedly you can get your yield to .999, but it looks like an awful lot more work, and quite frankly, I doubt it. That being said, I have never tried. Also, this really only works for small batches. 100 g is pushing the limit in my experience.

There's a bit of a learning curve to this, you have to have a Really Big microwave, and in my case, I built a special "station" for my little operation in a corner of my barn. I also put a HD switch on the power source to the microwave.

More than once my smelt has caught on fire (once destroying a $400 micro). This is part of the learning curve. Do you max out the time limit on the micro cycle or stay around and do it in 10 minute phases? You have to figure that out.

There are all kinds of inexpensive ($25 +/-) graphite bar and round (coin) molds available on the interwebs. I have a few, but have never used them.

Eventually I will take what I have and get it re-smelted into .999 kilogram bars, but the guy my son uses in Anchorage charges 2.5% to do that (he certifies it and everything), so I'm also looking at setting myself up with a proper propane kiln and do it myself.

Anyway, I saw your question and my eyes popped out. I thought I was the only crazy one out there, heh heh...

DIY Smelting Kit

a reply to: SBMcG

in a microwave?!?

Isn't that a bit dangerous?

originally posted by: Akragon
a reply to: SBMcG

in a microwave?!?

Isn't that a bit dangerous?

It can be. You definitely have to follow instructions and I wouldn't use it for any other metal than gold, but I have successfully smelted about 3.5 kilos of .900 +/- in the last 2 years with only one major disaster.

You HAVE TO HAVE a commercial quality large microwave.

And like I said, I do it in my barn, which is very large and has 12' ceilings downstairs.

The limitation is that you can only do small batches at one time -- this would be useless for any real commercial operation.

Actually, I'm somewhat motivated to try out some of my graphite molds now that the OP has but a bug in my brain...

Here we go:

Dummies Guide to GOLD bullion refining at home as a long term precious metal investment - made EASY

Posted here on ATS back in Feb. 2012

Doesn't go into making coins, but does have a LOT on how to extract gold from things.

My father was a jeweler so I've done some casting.

To do coins they usually use hydrolic presses to strike the coins from blanks.

But that's expensive.

If you're doing this at home you'll probably want to invest in some casting equipment.

Oh and refining gold and metals is dangerous. So be careful.

originally posted by: eriktheawful
Here we go:

Dummies Guide to GOLD bullion refining at home as a long term precious metal investment - made EASY

Posted here on ATS back in Feb. 2012

Doesn't go into making coins, but does have a LOT on how to extract gold from things.

hey thanks for posting that... Pretty much the same process as in the video i posted...

Its nice to see it done live, but i like written instructions better

Good stuff

If you're going to make ~COINS~...fist you need your own country.

if you want to make round metal coinlike thingies, you're making ROUNDS. or medallions.

melt your metal
roll out sheets
cut out round bits (called 'planchets')
stamp them real hard with your custom design.
sell on ebay (or whatever)

nobody has used casting to make coins on any scale for centuries. was done in the early-colonial era Americas.

ever notice how many third world coins look very professional? they often contract with the US Mint to make for them.

a reply to: ElGoobero

Thank you for correcting me - I'm talking about making rounds and not coins... I wouldn't want to piss off the central bankers, many of us on ATS know that would be a very bad move

I didn't know many countries contracted with the US Mint to make their coins - fascinating! Thanks for contributing to the thread El Goobero

You can make molds out of aluminum, sort of like a sinker mold. Or just collect pre-84 pennies for the copper, they are pretty high in copper. Real copper pennies will always have value.

a reply to: FamCore

Hash coins!

a reply to: FamCore

Is it even legal to make your own coins ? I believe the big private mint companies have to have a license to issue coins. I suppose as long as you didn't attempt to place it in circulation it would be alright, as in your own souvenir but I don't know, just thought I would ask.

a reply to: DJMSN

I believe El Goobero clarified that with his post regarding terminology of "Coins" versus "Rounds". I should have asked about making my own "rounds" in the OP, that was my mistake.