How Are Gold Proof Coins Made?

The Royal Mint is the oldest mint in the world, and it has been producing coins for over 1,100 years. Today, the Royal Mint is a world leader in the production of gold proof coins. These proof coins are made using a special process that results in a mirror-like finish and a high level of detail.

The first step in making a proof coin is to create the dies. The dies are the metal stamps that are used to strike the coins. They are made from a special steel alloy that is very hard and durable. The dies are first engraved with the design of the coin. This is done using a process called die sinking.

An inspection of a Charles III proof obverse die

Once the dies are engraved, they are polished to a mirror finish. This is done to ensure that the coins have a high level of detail. The dies are then mounted in a coining press.

The next step is to prepare the gold planchets. The planchets are the blank disks of gold that will be struck into coins. They are made from high-quality gold that is free of any impurities. The planchets are then also polished to a mirror finish.

The gold planchets are then placed in the coining press. The dies are lowered onto the planchets and struck with many tonnes of force (circulation coins are struck once at high speed, gold proof coins are struck multiple times at higher pressure and with a lower speed). This forces the gold to flow into the details of the dies, creating a coin with a mirror-like finish and a high level of detail.

A large Queen's beast coin being struck. Courtesy of The Royal Mint

The coins are then removed from the coining press and inspected. Any coins that are not perfect are rejected. The perfect coins are then cleaned and packaged for sale.

Gold proof coins are a popular choice for collectors and investors. They are prized for their beauty and their high quality. The Royal Mint produces a wide variety of gold proof coins, including sovereigns, Britannias, and commemorative coins.

If you are looking for a beautiful and valuable coin to add to your collection, a gold proof coin struck at the Royal Mint is a great option. In addition to their beauty, the time and effort involved in their production means that their mintages are extremely limited. 

BSC Collectibles carries one of the UK's largest inventories of gold proof coinage. Click here to view our range of gold proof coins.