THE ART OF COIN MINTING IN ANCIENT GREECE

 

Ancient Greeks made their coins by following a specific procedure. First, they melted metal and poured it into round bars. These bars were afterwards cut into discs, which had the same diameter and weight- essential factors ,which define the value of each coin.Each disc was then placed between to stamps between two stamps (moulds), carved with the scenes that would appear on each side of the coin; then they hit them with a hammer until the scenes were stamped on the coin. 

 Each coin was created separately; thus, the worker had to be extra careful and skilled at his work. The moulds on which the scenes had been carved were made of bronze, iron or brass. These moulds faded after having been used frequently, and they had to be replaced. Since the moulds included detailed and wonderful miniature depictions, and their role in coin minting was essential, we can assume that their creation must  have been a quite expensive procedure.

The mints were small buildings and the workers used the following tools: a furnace, a scale, a scorp, a punch and a pair of tongs that were used for placing the disc on the anvil, where the front side mould had been placed. On the other side of the coin, a pinch on which the scene had been engraved, was placed. The first side was hit by the worker with a hammer so the coin was pressed from both sides, achieving an accurate stamping.

In the first years, there were no discs but round metal masses until the round bars were invented.

A large quantity of metals was necessary for the production of coins. A small city could just trade its products in order to buy the precious metals. On the other hand, large cities like Athens needed larger quantities of metal, which they used to take from the mines. For example, Athens acquired precious metals  from the mines of Lavrio and Aegina from the mines of Sifnos. In the Northern parts of Greece, King Philip II of Macedonia used the mines of  Damasteio and Paeonia, while Alexander the Great took advantage of the mines located in the areas he had conquered. During Hellenistic Times, Greek dynasties, such as the Ptolemies were provided with metals from the mines of Nouvia and from Cyprus.

Source: Greek Coins