How To Make Your Own Half Dollar Ring

With just a few tools you can wrap 50 cents around your finger

By PhillyAnt

Published 8 years ago in Ftw

With just a few tools you can wrap 50 cents around your finger

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Step 2: Get the size you want. I use Zales' ptintable sizing chart and cut out what size I need then glue it to the coin. It's very important that it's centered on the coin. http://images.zales.com/images/popups/zales_ringsizer.pdf

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Step 3: Get hammered. Using a hammer and anvil start tapping the edge of the coin while rotating it as you do so. Tip: every couple of minutes flip the coin around to insure the ring comes out even
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Step 4: Continue getting hammered. The diameter of the coin will start to get smaller as the edge of it will start to widen.

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Step 5: Almost done getting hammered. C'mon man you can do this... My arm gets so fatigued after I've been pounding it for a few hours.
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Step 6: Not really a step but I made this gif and it's freaking sweet. 50 minutes in 3 seconds... reminds me of my first time.
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Step 7: When the rim of the ring touches the paper you're ready for the next step.

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Step 8: make a hole. Drill a small hole as close to the edge as possible and using a jewelers coping saw thread it through hole.
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Step 9: Cut the center out. Save the center piece. Don't ask why. Just do it.
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Step 10: Clean up the inside with a stone bit so it's hella smooth. Yeah, just like that.

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Step 11: Make it shiney. Shown here are only 2 grades of sandpaper. But you actually need 7. 150, 220, 350, 1500, 3000, 5000 and 7000 grit.
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Step 12: Polish
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Step 12: Polish

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BUT ISN'T THIS ILEGAL???!?!?!?!?!?!! No, it's not. Title 18, Section 331 states, “Whoever fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the mints of the United States, or any foreign coins which are by law made current or are in actual use or circulation as money within the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.” Key word there is "fraudulently". It is not Fraud to make jewelry or art out of them. There are machines all over the U.S. that smash pennies into "elongated coins" and it's perfectly legal.