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Engraving and tooling workshops

A new building devoted to engraving and the manufacture of tools was inaugurated at the end of 2014.
The engraving workshop, flooded with light, is located in the calm of the upper floor.
It is the duty of the master engravers to design and produce tools (dies and punches) which will be used to strike coins, medals and decorations. They transmit their knowledge and perpetuate Monnaie de Paris style.
Trained in the best schools, it takes them years to master all the facets of the profession. The only place in France where the engraving of money is learned and practised is at Monnaie de Paris.

Vérification en volume de la gravure en creux d'un coin - © Monnaie de Paris Jean-Marc Martin

Luminous and volume creation

In addition to their technical training, engravers master the graphic arts. With talent, they produce a low-relief model in industrial modelling paste, then in plaster based on their drawing (manual or computer-assisted) in order to magnify their engraving and the effect of light on it. They alternate cavity and relief work until they obtain an optimal result.

Gravure avec le tour à réduire dans les années 50 - © Monnaie de Paris

Cutting-edge techniques combined with ancestral know-how

Engravers practise ancestral techniques of direct cutting for which they manufacture their own tools. They are also no less skilled in old and digital technologies (reduction, electroerosion, milling machine, laser). They choose complementary techniques depending on the project. They intervene manually at each stage and ensure the quality and finesses of the motif.

couleurs sur le coin d'une monnaie de collection - © Monnaie de Paris Jean Marc Martin

Transforming a block of steel into a striking tool

Cylinders made of highly-resistant alloys are engraved, then the tooling workshop machines them: the turner centres and reveals the engraving and prepares the recesses to adapt the tooling to the press chosen.

Depending on the finish, the polisher creates the colours: polished mirror and abrasion effects. Lastly, the die is punched with marks by the engraver then receives a surface treatment which ensures its rigidity and protects its engraving.

Enfonçage du poinçon de garantie sur un bijoux argent - © Monnaie de Paris Jean-Marc Martin

And the guarantee? That's us too

The engraving and tooling workshops also manufacture and engrave:

  • the guarantee punches of the grades (gold, silver, etc.), of masters, of the industry, and of engravers;
  • the official stamps and seals.

The engravers work closely with the hubber to produce them.

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