MAKE A RING FROM A COIN

If you need to get married and are short on cash you can make your own ring! All you need is under twenty dollars to buy a silver coin, a spoon, and some free time. Coin making was common in the depression and
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World War II when times were tough. Here is how to do it.

First, get a silver half dollar for a man or quarter for a woman. These can be bought on line or at most flea markets. Silver coins were minted in the United States before 1965. They stand out by their silver edges. You can get a common half dollar for around eight dollars. A quarter will cost five. Avoid coins that have special value to collectors. A good half dollar to get is a Franklin half. Barber halves are too historic and Standing Liberties are too beautiful too destroy. Silver Washington quarters are easy to find. It would be a shame to ruin a Standing Liberty or a Barber.

Your second step is to find a sturdy spoon, a glove, and a wooden board. Hold the coin while firmly tapping the edge. Rotate the coin after several strikes. Don't hit too many times in one spot or the coin will be deformed. Hitting too hard will ruin the coin too. After some time you will notice the coin turning into a ring. A feature of this process is the coin's date being left on the inner rim of ring. You may want to get a special date for this reason. This is long process. I ruined a coin with a hammer out of frustration. The ring will be harder to shape as you approach completion. The coin is getting smaller and tougher. Don't get your hammer and throw away the time you spent! Look at it as a long term commitment that will take several months.

Finally, stop when you have reached your ring size. Take the coin to someone with a lathe and have the center drilled out. A jeweler can do this as well as a mechanic. The ring can also be resized if it doesn't fit. A jeweler can do this for around one hundred dollars. I advise you to get a chain and wear this ring around your neck Frodo Baggins style when it is not on your hand. It will become precious to you and you will never forgive yourself if you lose it.