It can be tricky to decide which coin ring is right for you. One that is particularly meaningful as well as unique. Coin rings are special because they are a quality keepsake that can be passed down. We have made coin rings to reflect countless memories. Whether it is celebrating a birthday, marking an anniversary, or remembering a loved one; all coin rings tell a story. When choosing a coin ring an excellent place to start is with the country or the year. We can source coins from across the world made of different metals (silver, copper, brass, or nickel). Maybe there is a coin from a special country you had visited or one of ancestral significance. Or perhaps a special year you want the coin to be from that will stand out on the band. Whatever the reason, a coin ring is as unique as the individual. It is also important to have a coin ring that fits comfortably. It is imperative that all coin rings are precisely sized to the customer. We are passionate about creating meaningful keepsakes that will be treasured. As you can tell, there are countless varieties of coin rings to choose from. We look forward to continuing making history you can wear.

A. 1. Choose a coin. One that has special meaning to the customer. A specific year or country that the coin is from.

2. Anneal the coin. This means that the coins are heated up and then quickly cooled. The process allows for the coin to be more malleable and allow it to be shaped without any loss of detail or cracking. Re-annealing is crucial throughout the ring making process. Too much heat will damage the pattern (reticulation) and too little will cause the coin to break. Annealing will be different for different materials.

3. Cut a hole in the center of the coin. We use specialized tools to ensure a centered hole. If it is off slightly it will cause the ring to be wobbly.

4. Deburring. This is to smooth out the sharp edges of the inside hole of the coin.

5. Folding/stretching the coin into a ring. The coin in placed in a reduction die and the cone is pushed through the center hole.

6. Stretching the ring. This is done on a stretcher/reducer machine. We begin stretching the ring by pushing the lever and expanding the mandrel. We spin the ring between stretches so that the edges of the mandrel does not leave an impression on the inside of the ring.

7. Reducing the ring. The ring is once again annealed and expanded several sizes above the target size and then reduced in the reduction die or through our Swedish Wrap technique to bring it down to size.

8. Final Shaping of the ring. We repeat stretching and reducing until it is well formed and symmetrical.

9. Adding a patina. If the customer would like a high contrast ring with dark and shiny highs and lows, we will want to put a patina on the ring. For silver, liver of sulfur is the best way to achieve this. First we remove any oils that are on the ring. Just by touching it, oil from fingers can make it difficult to get an even patina.

10. Polishing the ring. Removing any final burrs or sharp edges on the ring. A light polish, using a polishing cloth, brings out the shiny luster on the coin ring.

Defacing currency is only illegal if you intend to use the currency and keep it in circulation after defacing it. Canadian law states: "No coin that is bent, mutilated or defaced, or that has been reduced in weight otherwise than by abrasion through ordinary use, shall pass current."

This means that no coin that is manipulated may pass as currency and be used as legal tender, however, the law has no such provision that prevents such manipulation as long as it doesn't continue to be used as currency.

Some of our coins are also US coins. This exerpt is taken directly from the US Department of Treasury's website (https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/faqs/Coins/Pages/edu_faq_coins_portraits.aspx)

“Section 331 of Title 18 of the United States code provides criminal penalties for anyone who “fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the Mints of the United States.” This statute means that you may be violating the law if you change the appearance of the coin and fraudulently represent it to be other than the altered coin that it is. As a matter of policy, the U.S. Mint does not promote coloring, plating or altering U.S. coinage: however, there are no sanctions against such activity absent fraudulent intent.” Since our goal is to produce beautiful re-purposed historical rings, our actions are considered non fraudulant and thus are within the scope of the law.

The key word is fraudulent. Because we are not defacing to defraud, there is no concern of legality. We are merely making jewelry, not gold plating a nickel and trying to pass it off as a five dollar gold piece, that is illegal (if gold and silver were still considered money by the Government). Also, by using pre-1965 U.S. silver coins, or foreign coins, there is not a concern due to the ability of melting down these coins for their metal value. An immeasurable amount of silver coins have been melted down in the past few decades to get to their silver content.

Another thing to note is that major tourism locations have machines that turn coins into souvenirs by completely defacing them as currency. If defacing currency was illegal, these large companies would not be implementing machines such as these.

We prefer to source our coins from local businesses in Lethbridge, Alberta. We believe in the importance of community and local businesses.

If the specific coin is unavailable locally we will order it online. We usually will purchase coins in bulk to keep our prices competitive. We have several popularly ordered coin rings ready to meet popular demand. With an increase in custom orders there are many coin rings yet to be added to our catalog. We are always open to trying new coin rings.

1. Photos of the finished product are sent to ensure customer satisfaction prior to shipping.

2. Our coins are all inspected by an independent party before they are shipped.

3. We offer resizing on all orders.

A. The best way to get your ring size is to visit a jeweler. They should provide sizing services free of charge. Keep in mind that ring sizes can fluctuate around half a size throughout the day and possibly more between seasons. It’s a good idea to take your measurement several times to find the most accurate fit.

A. Absolutely! Do you have a coin in a collection that has been collecting dust tucked away? We'd be happy to turn it into a piece you can treasure. However, there can be limitations in size, type of metal, and design.

Please send us a message with the coin you’d like to use to find out how well it will work.

A. This will depend on your skin type as well as the type of metal used in the coin. Copper is a metal that can lead to temporary discoloration. If you have sensitive skin we recommend having the ring made from a silver proof coin.