how hammered coins were made

Hammered coins were produced by placing a blank piece of metal a planchet or flan of the correct weight between two dies and then striking the upper die with a hammer to produce the required image on both sides. The planchet was usually cast from a mould The bottom die (sometimes called the anvil die) was usually counter sunk in a log or other sturdy surface and was called a pile. One of the minters held the die for the other side called the tresel in his hand while it was struck either by himself or an assistant.

suggests that a lower die could be expected to last for up to 10,000 strikes depending on the level of wear deemed acceptable.[1] Upper dies seem to have a far greater range of lives with usable lives ranging from just over 100 strikes to nearly 8000 being reported.[1] Combining archaeological evidence with historic records suggests ancient coin producers (in this case the could get as many as 47,000 strikes out of an individual die.