Another process change at the Mint

[Robert]

Coin World says the Mint is experimenting with a new laser-based frosting process that might replace conventional grit blasting.

The laser would burn tiny craters into the recessed part of the die, similar to the way grit blasting does it. However, the laser-made craters are precisely placed while the grit blasting craters are more random.

They say the frosting done by the two methods should be indistinguishable to the naked eye. I guess I'd have to see it to believe it. The process should save lots of proof die prep time.

One thing they didn't mention is that with computer controlled laser frosting, they could embed anti-counterfeiting codes in the pattern of craters or even things like die #s etc (like the British used to do on certain silver coins, in order to track die wear).

It appears that the proof medals commemorating the National Wildlive Refuge (w/ Teddy Roosevelt) were made with the laser process.

[GarryN]

Robert, there was also a story in the Aug 25 Coin World about the Mint experimenting with different coatings to extend die life. The coatings were not identified and there was nothing in that story about the laser based frosting process.