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This ring is made out of a quarter by flattening the edge with a spoon or machinist hammer, then after drilling a hole and polishing the center is dremmeled out. A sanding disc is used to smooth out the inside and sized it to fit. After it’s a complete you have a pretty neat looking ring. It would be cool to make ones from different countries you visited and give them to friends.
0 thoughts on “How to make a Coin Ring”
Now that is pretty cool!
Any Year/Metal?
I cannot tell from the picture if the quarter that was used is a pre-1965 — mostly silver with no copper core. Does anyone know?
It looks like a Kennedy half-dollar to me. Given that there doesn’t appear to be a copper core, it is probably the 1964 90% silver edition: http://www.24carat.co.uk/1964uskennedyhaldollarframe.html
Would it be possible to use a quarter with a copper core? I understand that copper is a much less pliable metal, but could this project be undertaken with just a bit more hammering than in the howto?
Isn’t this kind of defacing of US Currency a Federal Offense?
no
My father made one of these for my mother in 1964 as a graduation gift since it had their graduation year still visible in the edge. I still have it around here somewhere.
Nice to know that some hacks never go out of style.
Since coinage is supposed to have intrinsic value, there is no law preventing you from doing just about anything you want to do with is – except trying to pass it – like buying something with it.
I have made a ring for my oldest daughter using one of the “clad” (cupra-nickel) quarters and it really looks neat. It has bands of both the copper and the nickel in it.
Just made one from a 1943 D quarter for my wife (her birth year) that I had a 5 1/2 caret star sapphire mounted on it.
This is a great little project! I promise, if you take the time and effort to make one of these “Two-Bit” rings for someone it will be treasured.
Can anyone help me with steps or maybe pictures and stuff on how to do this? My father also did this for my mom back in the 60’s and I’d like to do it for my girlfriend if only I knew how. If anyone can help me out, please email me at unrealnighthawk AT gmail DOT com.
Help!
Can anyone give me additional help with making these coin rings? I’m not sure about the steps. Does anyone know about any websites out there that explain it with pictures or anything? If anyone can help, please email me at unrealnighthawk AT gmail DOT com. Thanks!
I read about this a couple years ago and have since made about 10 rings. I have posted pictures of the steps that should help most people.
http://homepage.mac.com/johnhuber/CoinRing/PhotoAlbum20.html
One of the hardest parts is the constant turning of the coin while you strike it. I have since discovered that if you start by drilling a 1/8th hole in the center of the coin, you can mount it on a bolt of some kind. Then I secure the bolt in a small battery powered Dremel tool I have just to take care of the rotation. Just hold it aginst your steel block, and hammer while it spins. I put on music and do about 2-3 strikes a second. Start easy and see how it progresses. If you use too much force you can warp the coin.
After it is down in size, I do final hammering by hand.
FYI. Half dollars make good mens size bands, quarters make very small rings.
1964 and earlier halfs and quarters are 90% silver 10% copper. Kennedy halfs from 1965 to about 70 are about 80% and don’t work well. After that they are copper nickel and would not be good on the skin (green!)
Walking Liberty Halfs work well and you can find decent ones in your local coin shop junk silver bin. I got a 1943 and 1942 for 6 bucks. Make sure you can read the dates and text arount the rim.
And as far as defacing US Currencey, as long as I am not passing it off as something other than it is, it is legal. Changing a mintmark for profit is illegal.
Enjoy!
John
Check out forgedunderthemountain.com – has directions on how to, and you can buy quarter rings ready made.
In regard to using a copper cored coinage. I have no idea. I have never tried. I have however tried making a copper bowl from sheet. I don’t see why you couldn’t make a ring from a copper coin. Copper does work harden; so you would need to quench it from time to time. To do that you just need to heat it with a gas torch and then quickly drop it in to some water. You will find that it will soften considerably when you do. So be careful when you resume beating it with your hammer.
cool
cool stuff