Introduction to Coin Production
Coins in your pocket have survived extreme production conditions, including high temperatures and pressures, and remain essential for daily life, despite being costly to produce. The US Mint produces coins from giant metal coils through a pressing process, with each penny costing more to make than its worth.
The Production Process
Coin production involves several stages, starting with the creation of blank coins. A machine at the mint can produce 14,000 blank coins per minute, creating excess metal pieces called “webbing” that will be shredded and recycled. The blank coins then undergo a harsh journey through fire and a special water treatment process called annealing.
- Fire bath in an annealing furnace, heating coins to 1,600°F without damaging them due to the lack of oxygen.
- Special water treatment, which includes citric acid and lubricants to prevent coins from sticking together and to achieve their desired appearance.
Coin Treatment and Upsetting
After annealing, coins are washed and restored to their original color using a machine with detergents and anti-tarnish agents. They then undergo an upsetting process, where they are sent into a narrower groove, raising the metal around the edge to form a rim. This rim is crucial for the coins to complete their journey.
Preventing Counterfeits
Counterfeit coins are a significant issue, and to combat this, rigorous design standards are in place. Coins undergo a thorough inspection and cleaning process, including burnishing with metal pellets to smooth the surface, and are handled carefully by mint employees.
The Striking Phase
Once cleaned, the coins are ready for the striking phase, where they will be imprinted with their design. A machine at the mint imprints designs onto blank coins with enormous pressure, ranging from 35 to 100 metric tons for circulating coins and up to 540 metric tons for collectibles.
Inspection and Distribution
Inspectors examine coins to ensure there are no mistakes in the design, and those with errors are sent for recycling. Coins that pass inspection are counted, weighed, and stored in large bags that are moved by forklift and stacked on shelves, waiting for the Federal Reserve to place an order.
Summary Jigsaw
Drag and drop the sentences below to put them back in the correct order.
- Once cleaned, the coins are ready for the striking phase, where they will be imprinted with their design. A machine at the mint imprints designs onto blank coins with enormous pressure, ranging from 35 to 100 metric tons for circulating coins and up to 540 metric tons for collectibles.
- After annealing, coins are washed and restored to their original color using a machine with detergents and anti-tarnish agents. They then undergo an upsetting process, where they are sent into a narrower groove, raising the metal around the edge to form a rim. This rim is crucial for the coins to complete their journey.
- Coins in your pocket have survived extreme production conditions, including high temperatures and pressures, and remain essential for daily life, despite being costly to produce. The US Mint produces coins from giant metal coils through a pressing process, with each penny costing more to make than its worth.
- Inspectors examine coins to ensure there are no mistakes in the design, and those with errors are sent for recycling. Coins that pass inspection are counted, weighed, and stored in large bags that are moved by forklift and stacked on shelves, waiting for the Federal Reserve to place an order.
- Counterfeit coins are a significant issue, and to combat this, rigorous design standards are in place. Coins undergo a thorough inspection and cleaning process, including burnishing with metal pellets to smooth the surface, and are handled carefully by mint employees.
- Coin production involves several stages, starting with the creation of blank coins. A machine at the mint can produce 14,000 blank coins per minute, creating excess metal pieces called “webbing” that will be shredded and recycled. The blank coins then undergo a harsh journey through fire and a special water treatment process called annealing.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Pronunciation | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annealing | /əˈniːlɪŋ/ | A heat treatment process used to make materials, like metals, less brittle and more workable. | The coins underwent an annealing process to relieve internal stresses. |
| Counterfeit | /kaʊntərˈfɪt/ | A fake or imitation, especially of a currency or a document. | The government has implemented strict measures to prevent counterfeit coins from circulating. |
| Upsetting | /ʌpˈsɛtɪŋ/ | A process in metalworking where the edge of a metal piece is raised to form a rim or a flange. | The coins went through an upsetting process to create their distinctive rims. |
| Burnishing | /ˈbəːnɪʃɪŋ/ | A process of making something smooth and shiny by rubbing it with a tool or a substance. | The coins were burnished with metal pellets to give them a smooth finish. |
| Citric acid | /ˈsɪtrɪk ˈæsɪd/ | A weak organic acid found in citrus fruits, used as a cleaning agent and a preservative. | Citric acid is used in the water treatment process for coins to prevent them from sticking together. |
| Webbing | /ˈwɛbɪŋ/ | Excess material, especially in the form of thin strips or sheets, that is removed during a manufacturing process. | The machine produced blank coins at a high rate, creating excess webbing that needed to be shredded and recycled. |
| Tarnish | /ˈtɑːrnɪʃ/ | A layer of corrosion or discoloration that forms on the surface of metals, especially in the presence of air and moisture. | The anti-tarnish agents in the cleaning solution helped to prevent the coins from tarnishing over time. |
| Rigorous | /ˈrɪɡərəs/ | Thorough, exhaustive, and severely exacting; not lenient or lax. | The mint has rigorous design standards in place to prevent counterfeit coins from being produced. |
| Brittle | /ˈbrɪtəl/ | Having a tendency to break or shatter easily, typically due to being hard and inflexible. | The annealing process helps to make the metal less brittle and more workable. |
| Flange | /flæŋ/ | A rim or edge, especially one that is raised or projecting, used to strengthen or attach something. | The upsetting process created a flange around the edge of the coin. |
| Collectibles | /kəˈlɛktɪbəlz/ | Items that are sought after by collectors, often due to their rarity, beauty, or historical significance. | The mint produces special collectibles that require higher pressure during the striking phase. |
| Inspection | /ɪnˈspɛkʃən/ | The act of examining something carefully, often to check for defects or errors. | The coins underwent a thorough inspection to ensure they met the required standards. |
| Metric tons | /ˈmɛtrɪk tʌnz/ | A unit of weight or mass, equivalent to 1,000 kilograms or 2,204.6 pounds. | The machine applies pressure of up to 540 metric tons to produce collectible coins. |
| Anti-tarnish | /ˌæntiˈtɑːrnɪʃ/ | A substance or treatment used to prevent or reduce tarnish on metals. | The cleaning solution contained anti-tarnish agents to protect the coins from corrosion. |
| Lubricants | /ˈluːbrɪkəntz/ | Substances used to reduce friction or wear between moving parts, or to prevent sticking or corrosion. | Lubricants were added to the water treatment process to prevent the coins from sticking together. |
| Striking | /ˈstraɪkɪŋ/ | The process of imprinting a design or image onto a metal surface, often using a die or a press. | The striking phase involves imprinting the design onto the blank coins using high pressure. |
| Circulating | /ˈsəːkjʊleɪtɪŋ/ | In use or distribution, especially of currency or coins that are being used in everyday transactions. | The mint produces circulating coins that are used in daily life, as well as collectibles. |
| Forklift | /ˈfɔːklɪft/ | A vehicle with a pronged device, used for lifting and moving heavy loads or objects. | The large bags of coins were moved by forklift and stacked on shelves, waiting for distribution. |
| Detergents | /dɪˈtɜːrdʒəntz/ | Substances used for cleaning, especially those that are designed to remove dirt, grime, or stains from surfaces. | The machine used detergents to clean and restore the coins to their original color. |
| Exacting | /ɪɡˈzæktɪŋ/ | Demanding a great deal of effort, precision, or attention to detail; strict or severe in requirements or standards. | The mint has exacting standards for the production of coins to ensure their quality and authenticity. |
How Coins Are Made - Inside U.S. Coin Factory 🎓
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Grammar Focus
Grammar Focus: The Present Simple and Present Continuous Tenses
The present simple tense is used to describe habits, routines, and general truths, whereas the present continuous tense is used to describe actions that are happening at the moment of speaking. In the context of the coin production process, both tenses are used to describe the various stages involved. For example, 'A machine at the mint can produce 14,000 blank coins per minute' (present simple) and 'Coins are undergoing a harsh journey through fire and a special water treatment process' (present continuous).
