Howard Bros manufactures minting dies for coins, medals and commemorative pieces, and works as a sub-contractor to several mints. Whether you start from a hand-sculpted plaster or a digital design, we produce a die that strikes cleanly and holds fine detail.
From plaster to finished die
Traditional plasters are digitised using our 3D scanner. That model is then read into our software, where the rest of the coin design is added, including 2D elements such as lettering. We send you a 3D rendered artwork of the job so you can approve or alter anything before we cut the die.
Models can also be produced entirely on the computer. That is usually a quicker and often cheaper route than traditional coin die manufacture, and it is ideal when you are working to a tight deadline.
Deep relief and large formats
Over the years we have developed our skills to challenge both ourselves and the stamping process. In recent years we have produced multiple dies as deep as 7–8 mm, struck into kilo silver, and our largest die to date is a 200 mm animal design.
Our femtosecond laser has taken this further again, giving a level of detail we simply could not achieve by cutting on a CNC milling machine alone.
Working on a coin or medal? Send us your plaster, artwork or design brief and we’ll advise on the best route to a finished die. Get a quote.
