News & Press

Die Styles for Custom Coins

Creating custom coins  with Osborne is an easy process.  First step - art and dies. Most people that contact us already have an idea about what they want on their coins.  The way that art gets onto coins is through  something call a die. To create a coin, you need 2 dies – one for each side. We offer a selection of stock dies that can be used at no additional charge –...

A Reason to Buy Products Made In The USA 

This is February, right? February 2021, correct?

I ask those questions very facetiously and somewhat sarcastically. I know it is February, but what had meconfused was the box on the front porch with a ship date of Dec 6th – wait, it took 9 weeks to get to me?Why did my electronic talking dog take nine weeks to be delivered from China - I think it could...

Challenge Coins Offer a Unique Colorization Opportunity

Our digital colorization capabilities are unmatched in the industry.  We can color the entire coin, parts of the coin and both sides if desired.  Our skilled craftsmen and designers can even place a picture that is not part of the minted piece, directly on the round. This art on coins becomes even more complex when considering the size of...

How Small is Too Small When it Comes to Coin Text Size?

Osborne's custom coins range in size from 0.984" (slightly larger than a quarter) to 3.00". Our most popular is 1.54" or about the size of a silver dollar. The size of the coin influences how big the text can be, as does the image on the coin. It's important to determine what's important when you design a coin - is the image more salient...

Coin Turn or Page Turn?

Telling the difference between page turn and coin turn can be done simply and easily with the change in your wallet. 

Coin Turn

Using a US quarter as an example, hold it between your thumb and 1st finger so that George Washington and the text (the obverse in coin lingo) is right side up and pretend there's a line or string going down through the coin from top to bottom,...

How Dies are Used in the Coin Making Process

One of the benefits of die struck coins is that the same pair of dies can be used with different metals and finishes can be applied, giving a coin a whole new look. Thus, multiple finish options with 1 pair of dies.

Coins are made with two dies – one die per side. Dies are round “blocks” of hardened metal with a flat top and a base shaped to lock into...