Abstract
In order to create a long-lasting memento for a musical performance for example, which also has a practical use, a coin or medal is designed with an embossed soundtrack. Furthermore, a method for embossing this coin or medal is proposed.
Claims
1. A two-stage embossing method for producing a coin or medal (2), comprising: during a first stage of the embossing process, introducing a coin blank (28) into an embossing chamber (22) that comprises an embossing ring (24) and a first and a second embossing stamp (26) facing each other and mounted moving towards each other so that the coin blank (28) is embossed, and during a second stage of the embossing process, embossing the respective soundtrack (6) using a die (30) that is inserted in the embossing chamber (22) between the blank (28) and the first and/or second embossing stamp (26).
2. The embossing method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second embossing stamp (26) have a smooth surface towards the embossing chamber (22).
3. The embossing method according to claim 1, wherein the die (30) is smaller than the coin blank (28).
4. The embossing method according claim 1, further comprising providing the coin or medal (2) with a central hole (8).
5. The embossing method according to claim 1, further comprising producing the die (30) galvanically.
6. The embossing method according to claim 5, wherein a metal plate is provided with a plastic layer, into which the soundtrack (6) of the die (28) is introduced by means of a graver.
7. The embossing method according to claim 6, wherein the plastic layer is provided with a further layer of silver electrolyte.
8. The embossing method according to claim 7, wherein a separating agent is applied onto the layer of silver electrolyte.
9. The embossing method according to claim 8, wherein a nickel layer is applied galvanically that is subsequently removed and serves as a die (30).
10. The embossing method according to claim 1, wherein the coin blank (28) is embossed with a pressure of more than 200 T during the first stage of the embossing process.
11. A galvanic manufacturing process for producing a die (30) for the embossing process of a coin or medal (2), comprising: providing a metal plate with a plastic layer into which a soundtrack (6) of the die (30) is introduced by means of a graver, subsequently galvanically providing the plastic layer with a layer of silver electrolyte, onto which again a separating agent is applied, and subsequently galvanically providing the separating agent with a nickel layer that is used as a die (30) after being removed.
12. Coin or medal (2) that is produced using an embossing process according to claim 1.
13. The embossing method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second embossing stamp (26) have a smooth surface towards the embossing chamber (22).
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] Further advantages, details and features will be apparent from the following description of several exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing.
[0031] In the drawings:
[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the top view of a first embodiment of a coin or medal in accordance with the invention with an integrated soundtrack;
[0033] FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of a coin or medal in accordance with the invention with an integrated soundtrack in the embodiment according to FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of a further embodiment of a coin or medal in accordance with the invention showing an example of a motif which is embossed on the side of the coin or medal opposite the soundtrack;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration in detail of a part of the soundtrack embossed on the coin or medal;
[0036] FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of a coin or medal in accordance with the invention with an integrated soundtrack as placed by way of example in a commercially available record player shown in sketch form;
[0037] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the side view of the soundtrack embossed on the coin or medal in accordance with the invention and a schematic illustration of the point of a reproducing stylus of a sound pick-up used to pick up the soundtrack;
[0038] FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the cross-section of the embossing chamber with the embossing ring, first and second embossing stamps and the blank of the coin or medal in accordance with the invention; and
[0039] FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the cross-section of the embossing chamber with the embossing ring, first and second embossing stamps, blank of the coin or medal in accordance with the invention and the die used to introduce the soundtrack and/or the relief on the opposite side.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0040] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a coin or medal 2 in accordance with the invention with a circumferential outer edge 3. A coin or medal in accordance with the invention has a diameter of about 50 mm to 150 mm, in particular about 100 mm. A spiral-shaped soundtrack 6 is embossed on the surface 4 of the coin or metal 2. As in the case of a commercially available record, the soundtrack 6 consists of a continuous uninterrupted groove which extends at a small distance from the outer edge of the coin or medal 2 to the free surface in the middle thereof. This free surface in the middle of the coin or medal 2 in which there is no soundtrack 6 is necessary since this region, by reason of the design of a commercially available record player 12, cannot be played and has a diameter of approximately 20 mm to 50 mm in the case of a coin and 50 to 100 mm in the case of a medal. However, if a dedicated playing device for the coin or medal 2 is made, it would be possible to make it in such a way that this free surface can be avoided and the soundtrack 6 can extend as far as the centre of the coin or medal 2. A central hole 8 is provided in the centre of the coin or medal in order to render it playable using a commercially available record player. If, again, a dedicated playing device for the coin or medal 2 is chosen, it would be possible to replace this central hole 8 by a depression or even to avoid it altogether by a fixing arrangement using the turntable 20.
[0041] FIG. 2 shows a perspective side view of a coin or medal 2 in accordance with the invention with a circumferential outer edge 3. Again, the soundtrack 6 and the central hole 8 are shown.
[0042] FIG. 3 shows another perspective side view of a coin or medal 2 in accordance with the invention with a circumferential outer edge 3. In this illustration, the central hole 8 is again shown but now from the rear side (the side of the coin or medal 2 opposite the soundtrack). Furthermore, an example of a motif or relief 10 can be seen which can be embossed on this side of the coin.
[0043] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration in detail of a section of the soundtrack 6 embossed on the coin or medal. In accordance with the invention, the surface 4 of the coin consists of a material which is tough and also aesthetically appealing. For this purpose the following are proposed, inter alia, especially the non-ferrous and noble metals: gold (Au), silver (Ag), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) as well as gilded or silvered metal blanks, but also steel. Furthermore, FIG. 4 shows that the soundtrack 6 can extend straight or in an undulating manner. The way the lateral deflection of the soundtrack 6 extends corresponds to the acoustic oscillation of the stored signal and can be converted into an acoustic signal by means of the tip of a reproducing stylus 14 of a sound pick-up 16 illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.
[0044] FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of the coin or medal 2 with an integrated soundtrack 6 in accordance with the invention as placed by way of example on the turntable 20 of a commercially available record player 12 shown in sketch form. The centre spindle 18 of the record player 12 therefore centres the medal or coin 2 on the turntable 20 by passing through the central hole 18. The soundtrack 6 can be converted into an acoustic signal with the aid of the tip of a reproducing stylus 14 of the sound pick-up 16.
[0045] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of the side view of the soundtrack 6 embossed on the coin or medal 2 and a schematic illustration of the reproducing stylus 14 with the associated left 16a and right 16b coil of the sound pick-up 16. The depth of the soundtrack 6 can be used to permit an additional depth movement in addition to the sideways movement. It is therefore possible to reproduce the piece embossed in the soundtrack in stereo, wherein one channel is characterised by the vertical movement, the second by the horizontal movement. The groove of the soundtrack 6 is of a V shape, in particular with an angle of inclination of the flanks of 45 with respect to the surface 4 of the coin or medal 2.
[0046] The broken lines in FIG. 6 show examples of options for varying the depth of the soundtrack. This is shown by way of example on the left side but the right side can also be described instead of this. This makes no difference since a commercially available record player 12 has a left 16a and a right 16b coil in the sound pick-up 16.
[0047] If the depth of the soundtrack 6 is varied on both sides of the groove at the same time, the width of the soundtrack 6 therefore changes orif the width is kept constantthe angle of inclination of the flanks necessarily changes. A change in the width of the soundtrack 6 is feasible in the case of a coin or medal 2 but is not worth attempting since it requires greater spacing of the grooves and therefore influences the information density. A change in the angle of inclination of the flanks symmetrically or even asymmetrically with respect to the centre point of the soundtrack 6 is favourable when using a dedicated playing device for the coin or medal 2 with a correspondingly adapted tip on the reproducing stylus 14 of the sound pick-up 16. However, in order to play the coin or medal 2 by means of a commercially available record player 12 it would be necessary to dispense with a change to the angle of inclination of the flanks with respect to the surface 4 since such a change impairs the playing by the tip of a commercially available reproducing stylus 14.
[0048] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view through the embossing chamber 22 with an embossing ring 24, first 26a and second 26b embossing stamps 26 and the blank 28 of the coin or medal 2. It is particularly favourable if a very small gap, in particular a gap of 0.02 mm, is provided in the embossing chamber 22 between the embossing stamp 26 and embossing ring 24. This ensures that as little material of the blank 28 as possible is lost. Optimally, the embossing ring 24 lies very closely against the blank 28 of the coin or medal 2 in order to avoid deformation of the blank 28 of the coin or medal 2 during the embossing process. By means of this structure and the very smooth surface of the first 26a and second 26b embossing stamps 26 it is possible to achieve optimal compaction and smoothing out of any unevenness on the surface of the blank 28.
[0049] FIG. 8 shows the same cross-sectional view through the embossing chamber 22 as in FIG. 7 but in this case additionally the first 30a and second 30b dies 30, one for embossing the soundtrack 6 and one for embossing the motif or relief 10 on the side of the coin or medal 2 opposite the soundtrack 6.
