The problems are that the dies have to be
sufficiently durable to resist wear, yet
sufficiently soft enough to be shaped into
a complex shape, fine enough to match these
coins.
Mention of engraving is interesting. What
material was available for such a task?
Was quartzite of sufficient hardness, and
how was it bound to the drive shaft?
Was engraving restricted to bronze dies?
Mention of "steel" attached to iron is also
interesting. I did not realise that steel
was available, except for the hammered iron
product used for swords.
I still cannot envisage the way such images
were impressed into iron if it were not done
as I suggested by stamping a preworked bronze
die into a red hot iron piece.
I have read that very few dies
have survived, and the exact methods of minting
are still not fully understood. Roman coins for
example, have both faces aligned. I read that
they may have used a hinged tool, but no example
survives, except for a picture from Pompeii.
Thanks for the replies so far,
Edgar
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