Cutting coins

Cut coin jewelry seems to be rising in popularity. Though rumored to be illegal, it's probably not, because the coins are not being altered with fraudulent intent: U.S.C. Title 18, Part I, Chapter 17, Sec. 331: Mutilation, diminution, and falsification of coins

One common way to do it is by hand with a jeweler's saw. A few options:

You can cut out the negative space, enhancing the main image, like this:

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/h...cut_coins1.jpg

You can also cut any new shape out of coin, essentially ignoring the existing imagery on the coin:

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/h...cut_coins2.jpg

Coins can be cut for an interlocking effect, both for shared jewelry and mini jigsaw puzzles.

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/h...ut_coins21.jpg

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/h...ut_coins22.jpg


I like this concept of cutting out the heads, which can later be used as jewelry or ornamentation.

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/h...cut_coins3.jpg


Pendants and keychains are common, with nicer coins made into money clips on the high end.

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/h...coins_etsy.png

This video shows the process, and can safely be speeded up to 2X speed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZfprYpuE3k

would be nice to know what equipment you use to hold and cut out the material.

Very nice, beautiful touch.
Nelson

I believe that they're press-fitted into a basic coin-shaped cutout like what you see in the video. Then, they drill holes in the coin, and initially thread the end of a jeweler's saw through the holes to start the cuts. I've also seen it done with a scroll saw, but I'm not sure that can match doing it by hand with a jeweler's saw.

Magnification might be helpful here. I suspect it's easy to screw up the cut, but if you're working with common coins, the errors are cheap.