This Blog Will Be Continued at New Location

Rather than trying to keep two separate Blogs active and updated, this Blog will be continued at my new location which is a part of my main Ross Coin Rings website.

The new location for all my Blog postings will be here.

Please stop by my new location and continue reading my Ross Coin Ring postings over there. Thanks a lot.

What is the smallest size coin ring you have seen?

 Quite frankly the smallest size coin rings you generally see are those sized for a woman or a child. Many of those range from about a 2.5 to a 5 or 6.  It is possible to fabricate a US Quarter down to a 5 or 6, but if you need a size smaller than that, I generally recommend starting with a smaller coin - like a dime or a penny.

The other day I was wondering just how small I might be able to forge a coin ring, and still have it look fairly nice. I started with a US Dime (clad), and although I had to resort to using some special tools I do not generally use - I was able to produce a pretty nice coin ring that is "almost" a Size 0 (zero).  It actually turned out to be a Size 1/4.

You can see it and many of the other coin rings I make, at my website and in my store. Stop by and check out all of my coin rings and leave me a comment if you so desire.

Ross Coin Rings Gets a Facelift - Wow! Now that's a Makeover

After much research and some head-scratching, I decided to give the Ross Coin Rings website a general facelift and makeover. Check it out... and I hope it is an improvement.

Coin Rings on Sale - Can these prices be right?

Today I placed two different coin rings in a Sale category on my website. Those individuals looking for their first coin ring will find these two items very reasonably priced. They could also be given as a gift, or worn on a small chain as a necklace. Either way, a coin ring is always a focus of attention and comments.

Check out these two coin rings here.

Ever wonder How Coin Rings Are Made?

Jewelry, in the form of rings, have been made from coins for many decades; probably even centuries. You can read more about the history of coin rings here.

Double-sided coin rings have really come along a bit more recently. They get their name from the fact that the coin is forged (or manipulated) in such a way, so as to preserve the details of the coin engraving from both sides of the coin, as well as the "factory" outside edge. A good example  is shown here.

As is true of many crafts, or artistic endeavors; the process of creating a coin ring may range from the simplest of techniques - requiring only a few basic tools, to rather elaborate fabrication methods that involve a wide range of precise and specific jewelry making tools.  Some of the more complex methods involve not only special hand-made tools, but the methods themselves may be proprietary in nature.

Naturally, the end products from these very diverse methods reflect the amount of time, skill, experience and resources that were applied to crafting the specific coin rings. In most all cases, this fact is very evident just from the appearance of the final piece.

In order to gain some first hand knowledge about how a fine coin ring is made, I have compiled a set of instructional videos that were recently released by a single skilled coin ring maker. His name is Skyler Jenkins and his shop name is The Mint - Change You Can Wear. Although these videos go into a fair amount of detail, they really represent a good beginning. Generally, an accomplished coin ring maker will devote many hours of trial and error work before gaining all the necessary nuances of fine coin ring making.

Nevertheless, if you will watch one or more of these videos, I think you will begin to get an appreciation for the amount of time, skill and tools that are necessary to turn out a beautiful coin ring. To get a look at these videos, please sign up here and ask for the link.

An Interesting Silver Coin Ring for the Size 10 finger

 Today, I added a new silver coin ring to my store on Ross Coin Rings. This beautiful ring was forged from a  US 1943 Walking Liberty Half Dollar. It is a size 10 and as you can see is finished with an antique look to capture all the fine engraving that is so much a part of these iconic old US coins. The details were preserved both inside and out. When you are asked by others to see the ring, you can proudly show them the original engraving on both sides of your ring.

Stop by my Ross Coin Rings store often as I am always adding new items. At this time, shipping is FREE.

Ross Coin Rings Now For Sale on Site... and free Shipping

Today I instituted several changes to my Ross Coin Rings website. Until now, my rings could only be purchased by clicking on a link to my Etsy shop. As of today, my rings can now be purchased directly from the Store on my Ross Coin Rings website, as well as from my Etsy shop.

Hopefully, this change will make it more convenient for visitors to browse and purchase rings from my inventory. Check back often as I also have plans to expand the current inventory.

Why is this called The Gamblers Coin Ring?

 The Morgan Silver Dollar, regardless of the year, is a well-known icon of US coinage.  This beautiful coin is 90% silver and when made into a coin ring, results in a very massive and attention-getting piece of jewelry.  Sometimes known as a "gamblers ring", the large ring is always noticed by others and is said to bring the wearer good luck. I am currently running some actual tests on this theory.

When crafting this particular coin ring, I took special time and care to form it into a unique one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry. I make these rings on custom order only, and in sizes from 13 to 18. If you are interested in having me make one for you, please contact me and I will quote you a price and fabrication time.

When I sit down to work, I mean business

My bench is where I craft all of the Ross Coin Rings.  Some of the hand-tools I use were designed by me and are used during certain proprietary steps of the crafting process. Here is a recent picture of me where I am checking the inside diameter of a finished ring with my dial calipers.

Sizing is important for a good fit, so I try to achieve the size ordered within a few thousandths of an inch.

Coin Ring from 1957 Franklin Half Dollar

This 1957 Franklin Half Dollar, containing 90% Silver, was made into a size 11 coin ring for a special custom order. The features of both the inside and outside of the coin are readily seen, and this ring should make a wonderful heirloom that may be handed down for many generations.

American Guild of Coin Ring Makers

I am a charter member and founder of the American Guild of Coin Ring Makers. Quite simply this guild is an organization of artisan/craftsmen with the same set of related interests and goals as they pertain to the making of rings from ordinary coinage.  This guild, AGCRM, is organized to maintain standards and to protect the interests of its members.

Ross Coin Rings Logo

The new Ross Coin Rings logo is pictured here. It was designed to be unique with artistic flair and elegance. This logo is now featured as a part of not only this blog, but also my Ross Coin Rings website and my Ross Coin Rings Etsy Shop.

The logo serves as a symbol of the artistic craftsmanship and care that goes into every coin ring I produce.  I fabricate my coin rings the old fashioned way with flame, forging, my special hand tools and artistic input. Time and patience produces beauty.

Look for this logo when you consider purchasing a coin ring for yourself or as a gift - and you can be sure it will become a precious heirloom for many generations. 

1941 Washington Quarter Silver Coin Ring

 December 7, 1941... a day that will live in infamy. Although this particular US Quarter was a bit worn from all the years it was in circulation; still I felt it was quite worthy of becoming a unique coin ring. On that fateful day, Japanese planes attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The attack cost the US over 2300 brave souls, and will never be forgotten.

Imagine if this particular coin may have been carried by someone who actually survived the horrific attack. Certainly the date on this coin (1941), marks a very significant milestone in the history of the United States, and of World War II.

Now, as a coin ring, this 90% Silver Washington Quarter can be worn on your finger as a piece of history that can be handed down for generations to come.This coin ring is currently available for purchase from my Ross Coin Rings shop on Etsy.

Coin Ring from Susan B Anthony Clad Dollar

When crafting a coin ring from the Susan B Anthony dollar coin, I find it to be one of the more unique dollar coins minted in the US. The border around the outside of the rest of the engraving is unlike any other coin, and this alone sets off the beauty of this particular coin.

In order to preserve the details both inside and out, I use a special technique when shaping and forming my coin rings. My process takes just a little longer, but it is very important to me that I produce a true double-sided coin ring that will be admired by not only the owner, but also those that merely see it on the wearer. This particular coin ring I did in a size 7.5.

When it comes to crafting a true artistic piece of jewelry, time is not the main concern with me. My goal is to produce a beautiful double-sided coin ring that will make a statement for generations to come.

This coin ring, and others are all available from my shop on Etsy. Click on this link to navigate to it, and thanks for your interest. You can also see my work at Ross Coin Rings.

Not All Coin Rings Crafted the Same

When shopping for a beautiful custom made coin ring, be sure to evaluate and choose the coin ring craftsman with care. Not all coin rings are made the same. Some are hurriedly folded over a simple slanted side mandrel and end up looking more like a Cone-Ring than an elegant coin ring.

Essentially, the maker stopped the forming process before it was completed. Perhaps they were in a hurry to polish it up and get it sold.

It takes extra time, some special hand tools and a unique technique in order to actually create a coin ring that is not only eye-catching, but also a thing of beauty.

Ross Coin Rings

When you purchase a Ross Coin Ring, you can be sure you are getting a coin ring that reflects hours of artistic effort - not only in crafting each item, but also in perfecting an old-school technique that uses no short-cuts or automated machinery.

Coin Rings Make Great Gifts

A coin ring is a ring that you can wear on your finger or on a small chain as a necklace.  Either way, the wearer will have a unique eye-catching jewelry item crafted by an artist. These coin rings are made from various metals because coins come in a variety of materials. Silver, bronze, copper, nickel and combinations of nickel and copper are a few of the more popular metals.

The size of the resultant ring is determined in large part by the size of the coin. Check out my Ross Coin Rings website, or my Etsy shop to see a variety of the coin rings currently available for immediate purchase. And, don't forget if you have a special request, let me know what size and type of coin ring you are looking for - and perhaps I can make it for you.

Coin Ring Hole Exactly Centered - Secret Revealed

The very first step towards creating a coin ring from a flat round coin is - you must somehow make a small hole in the center of the coin.

Now you can accomplish this one of two basic methods. You can punch the hole with a punch and die set; or alternatively you can drill a hole in it. Or, I suppose you could punch a small hole and then drill it out to make it larger. In either case, you end up with a hole in the coin which then makes it possible to fit it over the end of a tapered mandrel.

Once you have it started over the end of your mandrel; you can then begin the hammering and folding process. And, this hammering and folding process can go on for quite some time.  At least this is the typical "Hammer and Mandrel Process" you see demonstrated in all kinds of various YouTube videos and other instructional materials on the Internet. (Note: Although this is the typical process you see demonstrated the most; it may not be the only technique for achieving the desired end result...)

However, regardless of how any particular coin ring maker/artist develops their own coin rings; ideally the hole being exactly centered in the geometric center of the coin will produce the most dimensionally perfectly sized and shaped coin ring. That is, the width of the resulting band of metal will be exactly the same around the entire circumference of the finished ring.

Knowing this desire, or requirement, for a perfectly centered starting hole, a few clever entrepreneurs have discovered it might be more lucrative to sell hole punching devices to coin ring makers, than to actually make and sell coin rings. These devices, though cleverly designed and very effective, are extremely expensive (at least I think they are).  Of course they are machined from steel bar stock, and machining costs are not cheap these days.

Well, I promised to reveal the secret of "the exactly centered hole"; and so I shall. There is no denying that producing a coin ring with precisely the same width of band around the entire circumference - does in fact ideally require that the hole be positioned exactly in the center of the coin. However, the secret is; the hole really can be off from exact center and still the coin ring can be fashioned with the same width of band around the entire circumference. Thus, it is entirely fool-hearty to obsess over the task of exactly centering the hole. The reason it is not that important is because the ring maker has at least two separate opportunities to fix an off-center hole before the ring is completed.

The first is done with a round file before the forming process is started. At this point, the maker/artist merely files the off-center hole until it is slightly larger and centered.

The second is done with a flat file after the forming process is completed. The flat file is used on the cut edge to adjust the ring width until it is the same all the way around.

Both of these methods work extremely well - and are obviously a great deal cheaper than investing in expensive machined hole-punching devices.

Coin Ring Men's Size 11

Here is a coin ring I made from a clad New Hampshire US Quarter. I custom fabricated this ring to a size 11, which is about the largest size possible from a US Quarter. The band is fairly narrow and makes a beautiful ring. Details on both the outside and the inside have been preserved as I carefully crafted this ring. Check out my Ross Coin Rings website, or my Etsy Shop for more of my custom made coin rings.

Coin Ring from Canadian Penny

This coin ring was crafted from a copper Canadian penny. These coins can still be found every so often in your change, but this one came from my private stock of unique foreign coins. As a custom made coin ring, I sized it to fit the smaller finger that is typical of women's ring sizes. It is a size 4-3/4. I thought the engraving on this coin was particularly distinctive and tried to bring those features out in the end result. More pictures of this ring can be found in the Gallery of my Ross Coin Rings website.

Coin Ring from English New Pence Coin

The material of this 1971 New Pence coin is bronze. I meticulously crafted this coin ring to a size 7-1/4. All the original features of this unique coin have been preserved, and as you can see it the highlights are beautifully polished.

This coin ring was just finished today, and has been added to the Ross Coin Rings website as well as my Etsy shop.