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Moonlight Mint – Minting Services


 

 

A typical minting project involves the following steps:

 

1)     Concept and design.

2)     3-D digital sculpting.

3)     Die engraving.

4)     Blank fabrication.

5)     Striking.

6)     Post-strike marking & finishing.

7)     Packaging and shipping.

 

At Moonlight Mint, all of these steps are performed in person by Daniel Carr. With design and engraving capabilities far beyond those of most mints, your finished products will excel in aesthetic appeal. Unlike other mints where the designer is often anonymous, having your products created by a well-known artist will increase the market acceptance and market valuation. Daniel Carr is the designer of the New York and Rhode Island state quarters for the US Mint. Numerous examples of other numismatic items created by Daniel Carr can be viewed in the on-line store at www.DC-Coin.com . In addition, everything minted at Moonlight Mint has the added cachet of being struck using a surplus US Denver Mint coin press.

 

Your artwork can be used although there is no change in cost. The cost is the same whether the design is created by Daniel Carr or by someone else. Moonlight Mint can create dies for use at other mints. However, Moonlight Mint generally will not utilize any dies that were fabricated elsewhere (vintage and/or historic dies excepted). Note that not all proposed projects are undertaken. Certain items of a controversial or offensive nature will be declined. Anything that is significantly similar to any product lines that have been issued (or are planned to be issued) by Moonlight Mint will also be declined.

 

The following is a guide with general cost estimates for each of the seven minting steps.

(Note that two designs and two dies are needed for a two-sided piece.)
Some non-profit organizations (such as Coin Clubs) can qualify for a 10% discount off the listed prices for design, sculpting, engraving, striking, and marking.

 

 

1)     Concept and design.

2)     3-D digital sculpting.

 

The design and sculpting phases of a minting project can vary widely, based upon the level of difficulty and detail. Examples of various designs and their approximate costs are listed below. Note that all proposed designs are initially produced in a 3-D digital format. This has many advantages such as ease of revisions. The computer, however, is a tool and is not a substitute for the skill of a sculptor. The software used to perform the digital 3-D surface sculpting was actually written by Daniel Carr himself. Computer-generated renderings are produced for review and approval prior to step 3 (die engraving).

 

Sample design & sculpture, sorted by complexity/difficulty:

Estimated cost for design & sculpting:

 

$200

$400

$1,000

$1,600

[Replication of existing coin or

Medal design elements (with revisions)]

$2,000

$2,000

$2,000

 

 

 

3)     Die engraving (hardening via heat-treating included).

 

Die engraving is performed digitally using a highly-accurate computer-controlled milling/engraving machine. Before engraving dies, the customer will have the opportunity to review, suggest revisions, and approve the renderings of the 3-D digital sculpture. Once that is done, the die engraving (and thus, the finished product) are guaranteed to look exactly like the approved rendering because both the rendering and the engraving are generated by computer from the same source data. Note that multiple dies can be engraved from the same sculpture. For example, the same basic design can be used for two die engravings, one engraving marked “Copper” and the other “Silver” (for minting two different metals). The cost for multiple versions of the same basic sculpture are usually minimal or completely free.

 

Die diameter:

Estimated cost for engraving:

 

16mm

$400

22mm

$425

25mm

$450

27mm

$475

30mm

$550

34mm

$600

39mm

$650

41mm

$700

50mm

$800

63mm

$1000

 

 

Odd shapes (Octagon, etc.)

(Price applies if special tooling is already available -
extra cost if special tooling has to be fabricated)

$750-$1,500

 

Die finishing:

Finishing Cost:

 

 

Fine bead-blasting for satin finish.

$ Free

Polishing for “cameo” proof-like finish.

20% of engraving cost

 

 

 

4)     Blank “planchet” fabrication (includes punching, rimming, annealing, and burnishing).

 

Prices for precious metals can be locked in once funds are received and the metals are actually purchased.
Your precious metals can also be used or exchanged.

 

Blank diameter and type (round, unless otherwise noted):

Price per blank:

 

Base Metal (copper)

25mm, 30mm, 39mm

$3 each

 

999 Silver

16mm 1/20-troy-oz, 25mm ¼-troy-oz, 30mm ½-troy-oz, 39mm 1-troy-oz

Silver (physical) market price (per troy oz)

plus $3 each

999 Silver

50mm 2-troy-oz

Silver (physical) market price (per troy oz)

plus $5 each

 

999+ Gold

16mm 1/10-troy-oz

Gold (physical) market price (per troy oz)

plus $7 each

999+ Gold

22mm ¼-troy-oz

Gold (physical) market price (per troy oz)

plus $15 each

999+ Gold

27mm ½-troy-oz

Gold (physical) market price (per troy oz)

plus $20 each

999+ Gold

34mm 1-troy-oz

Gold (physical) market price (per troy oz)

plus $30 each

999+ Gold

39mm 1.6-troy-oz (50 Grams)

Gold (physical) market price (per troy oz)

plus $50 each

 

 

9995 Platinum

16mm 3 Grams

Platinum (physical) market price (per troy oz)
plus $12 each

9995 Platinum

22mm ¼-troy-oz

Platinum (physical) market price (per troy oz)
plus $30 each

9995 Platinum

27mm ½-troy-oz

Platinum (physical) market price (per troy oz)
plus $60 each

9995 Platinum

34mm 1-troy-oz

Platinum (physical) market price (per troy oz)
plus $80 each

9995 Platinum

39mm 1.6-troy-oz (50 Grams)

Platinum (physical) market price (per troy oz)
plus $100 each

 

 

9995 Palladium

16mm 5 Grams

Palladium (physical) market price (per troy oz)
plus $12 each

9995 Palladium

25mm ¼-troy-oz

Palladium (physical) market price (per troy oz)
plus $30 each

9995 Palladium

30mm ½-troy-oz

Palladium (physical) market price (per troy oz)
plus $60 each

9995 Palladium

39mm 1-troy-oz

Palladium (physical) market price (per troy oz)
plus $80 each

 

 

Odd shapes (Octagon, etc.)

(Price applies if special tooling is already available -
extra cost if special tooling has to be fabricated)

$0 to $20 above similar round blanks

 

 

 

 

 

5)     Striking.

 

Prices shown below are for satin-finish strikes.
Cameo proof-like strikes are 25% ABOVE those listed.

 

Note that proof-like strikes are generally not available for platinum and palladium.

 

Smooth edge or reeded edge (same cost either way).
Medal-turn orientation or coin-flip orientation (same cost either way).

 

$100 coin press setup fee per die pair, per production run (no minimum quantity required)

 

 

 

 

Diameter and type, satin finish:

Striking cost for each (satin finish)

(Add 25% for proof-like finish):

 

Base Metal (copper)

25mm, 30mm, 39mm

$3 each

 

999 Silver

16mm 1/20-troy-oz, 25mm ¼-troy-oz, 30mm ½-troy-oz, 39mm 1-troy-oz

$3 each

999 Silver

50mm 2-troy-oz

$7 each

999 Silver

63mm 4-troy-oz, 63mm 5-troy-oz,

$10 each

 

999+ Gold

16mm 1/10-troy-oz

$6 each

999+ Gold

22mm ¼-troy-oz

$10 each

999+ Gold

27mm ½-troy-oz

$15 each

999+ Gold

34mm 1-troy-oz

$20 each

999+ Gold

39mm 1.6-troy-oz (50 Grams)

$35 each

 

 

9995 Platinum

16mm 3 Grams

$8 each

9995 Platinum

22mm ¼-troy-oz

$12 each

9995 Platinum

27mm ½-troy-oz

$15 each

9995 Platinum

34mm 1-troy-oz

$30 each

9995 Platinum

39mm 1.6-troy-oz (50 Grams)

$50 each

 

 

9995 Palladium

16mm 5 Grams

$8 each

9995 Palladium

25mm ¼-troy-oz

$12 each

9995 Palladium

30mm ½-troy-oz

$15 each

9995 Palladium

39mm 1-troy-oz

$30 each

 

 

Odd shapes (Octagon, etc.)

(Price applies if special tooling is already available -
extra cost if special tooling has to be fabricated)

$2 to $20 above similar round strikes

 

 

 

6)     Post-strike marking and finishing.

 

 

Selective Gold Plating:

 

 

 

Gold electro-plating which covers only selected design elements.

(Available only on copper and silver.)

$15 to $25 each,
depending on surface area and detail

 

 

Marking:

Cost for each:

 

Edge Marking (same text on entire run).
For example: “ONE TROY OZ . 999 SILVER”

Available only on round 34mm and larger sizes with smooth edge.

$10 for the first one,

$1 each after that

 

Edge Marking (serial numbers).

Available only on round or octagon 30mm and larger sizes with

smooth edge and sufficient thickness.

$5 each

 

 

Face Marking (same text on entire run).

16 character limit per line.

$10 for the first one (per line of text)

$1 each after that (per line of text)

 

 

Face Marking (serial numbers).

 

$5 each

 

Hand Finishing:

Cost for each:

 

Matte finish (bead-blasting, burnishing).

$15 each

Antiqued (bead-blasting, patina, burnishing).

$25 each

Color-toned (copper).

$15 each

Color-toned (silver).

$20 each

 

 

 

 

7)     Packaging & Shipping.

 

Generally, the individual packaging and individual shipping for final distribution is left up to the customer.

 

Packaging:

Cost for each:

 

Bulk packaging in such a way to prevent contact marks.

$ Free

 

Capsules.

$1 - $5 each

 

 

Bulk Shipping of entire order to one location,
(generally via USPS Registered Flat-Rate Priority Mail).

$ Actual Cost

 

 

 

 

www.MoonlightMint.com