What kind of factory makes coins

Internationally recognised as one of the top five mints in the world in terms of striking quality, it is also one of the most dynamic when it comes to technological innovation.

It frequently wins awards such as "Coin of the Year" COTY for the excellence of its coins at international specialist numismatic events like "Coin Constellation". In , Monnaie de Paris embarked on an important investment programme to enhance and upgrade its infrastructure, equipment and facilities. The Research and Development Department explores opportunities for innovation in materials, forms and industrial processes. Its activity is focused on five strategic themes: collector coins, equipment, materials used for circulating coins, minting techniques and new means of payment.

The department's work enables Monnaie de Paris to stay ahead of the competition on the technological front and offer the public high-quality, original and innovative products. Thus the institution ensures it has the resources to rise to new technical challenges, innovate production and aim to meet the highest international standards.

The Pessac plant is one of the very few monetary institutions in the world to have been awarded triple QSE certification Quality, Safety and Environment : ISO for product quality; OHSAS for measures taken with regards employee occupational health and safety; and ISO for the institution's commitment to the environment. Both require access to high-performance equipment and increasingly sophisticated technological research facilities. The CNAP comprises a team of five members of staff and is the competent national authority on euro coins.

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The lack of oxygen prevents tarnishing. The slippery water is a mix of water, citric acid powder, and lubricants that keep the blanks from sticking together. Next, a machine lifts the blanks out of the quench tank to drain.

The Philadelphia Mint uses a cylindrical machine called a whirlaway that slowly turns as it lifts the blanks from the water. The Denver Mint uses a large scoop called a skip basket. The blanks travel from the quench tank to the washing area. The blanks are washed to restore their original color. The cleaning solution is a mix of cleaning and anti-tarnish agents. The upsetting mill feeds the blank into a groove slightly narrower than its diameter.

This pushes the metal up around the edge to form a rim. The rim protects the final coin from wear and makes it stackable. A blank with a rim is called a planchet. Most of the blanks that the Mint buys are planchets ready for striking.

When the Mint receives a shipment of planchets, inspectors check them carefully to ensure they meet the required specifications. After that, penny planchets go directly to the presses for striking. Special proof and uncirculated planchets go through a cleaning process called burnishing. They are placed in a drum with cleaning agents and small metal pellets to smooth and polish the surface.

An employee then rinses the planchets and hand-dries them with towels. The planchets travel to the coin presses for striking the design. The Mint has several different kinds of presses, but they all work the same way.

The press forces the obverse and reverse dies together against the planchet to strike both sides of the coin at once. Circulating coin presses use from 35 to metric tons of pressure to strike the coins, depending on the denomination.