Thread: Tru-Quarters™

Nice work
Do you make jewellery from them?

Originally Posted by oges

Nice work
Do you make jewellery from them?

No, i actually make pens with them!

These are great. I saw a "how to do this" and so I ask you a couple of questions please. What brand of scrollsaw do you use for this, and what sized blade and speed is required?

Seamus, is it legal to cut up coins in the USA?
I,m pretty sure it's illegal in Australia.

Pugwash, if I may, I'll answer for him for now. Yes, apparently it is legal to do so in the USA, and Steve Goode shows you how to do this on his web site, Scrollsaw Workshop. Steve is a great bloke and sends out free patterns regularly to his members in Emails.

Originally Posted by Buzza

These are great. I saw a "how to do this" and so I ask you a couple of questions please. What brand of scrollsaw do you use for this, and what sized blade and speed is required?

I'm curious what part of the process you saw? Or are you just referring to the cutting of a coin? I use a dremel scroll saw(variable speed-but on full throttle the whole time) and I use super fine blades.

Originally Posted by pugwash

Seamus, is it legal to cut up coins in the USA?
I,m pretty sure it's illegal in Australia.

It is very legal! I is a common misconception that it is illegal to cut these coins and use them for the purpose in which I use them. I contacted the U.S. Mint and in their words, "as long as I dont change the value of the coin to a higher value for personal gain, or continue the coin in circulation after being cut out, then this is perfectly legal!" and..."people use coins all the time for jewelry and belt buckles and all sorts of things."
But yes the law does read that it is illegal to mutilate, deface or alter these coins in any way, shape or fashion, but, It is referring to people that do that and continue the coin through circulation for personal gain. Anyway, there has been a ton of debate over this since I began making these over a year and a half ago, and really all that matters is that I am within the law and committing no illegal act. AND! Making some really cool pen blanks. I'm hoping to get my hands on some of that Australian coinage!!!!

Ah yes. Before we changed to decimal currency, a lot of crooks or just plain naughty boys, would polish our old copper one penny, to make it look like the silver two shilling piece (24 pennis in value). If proffered to someone half blind or drunk, they may have accepted it. I think Coca-Cola was the magic ingredient used from memory. It wasn't classed as defacing a coin to improve its value, but it was classed as deception.

Debate on this matter would run along the lines of the now cut and mounted coin having an improved value. The argument would suggest that it is not a blatant deception, in fact the opposite. A coin that is now a work of art and worth much more as such.

In Australia, three one dollar coins can be hammered into one classy men's dress ring. Illegal. The original fifty cent pice made for Australian currency has something like four dollars worth of silver in it, and so guess what happens to those? Don't know if that one is true, but I've been told. . . In any case, I like the pictures you 've put up, those coins are great and would make a great conversation piece.

Thanks for the explanation Seamus. So as long as you don't try to buy anything with the cut coin its legal.
And they do make awesome pens!

What do you do with all the little bits you have left over?

I took a look at your web Pugwash. You certainly make some nice instruments.

I must say too, that I wondered about the little bits cut out of the coins. Jewellers collect all of that stuff in a speacial apron attached to their work benches . . .

Originally Posted by Buzza

Ah yes. Before we changed to decimal currency, a lot of crooks or just plain naughty boys, would polish our old copper one penny, to make it look like the silver two shilling piece (24 pennis in value). If proffered to someone half blind or drunk, they may have accepted it. I think Coca-Cola was the magic ingredient used from memory. It wasn't classed as defacing a coin to improve its value, but it was classed as deception.

The product was mercury (accessed via chemistry classes in high school) and would stick to the copper coin for some time. Looked like a florin piece if they didn't turn it over and see the 'roo.
Pete

Mercury, yes. From the High School Lab. Find something to put it into for carrying. Putting it into your pockets didn't work.
Coca-Cola was good for making them look like new, but they had a different colour to the new ones from memory.