Turning an 1889 Morgan Silver Dollar into a BEAUTIFUL Coin Ring!!

Interested in purchasing a coin ring? Follow this link to my online store: checkout.square.site/merchant...
SCROLL DOWN FOR ANSWERS TO FAQs!!
Thank you for your support, positivity and kindness when commenting! Offensive posts with inappropriate language , content or abuse will be removed.
Follow along as I turn an old 1889 Morgan silver dollar into a wearable and functional piece of history. This is my first coin ring video. I don't have fancy camera equipment and was under a time constraint so please forgive my lack of editing and cinematic skills. I know it cuts in and out abruptly at times and the transitions from some of those edits are not smooth. I will work on my editing skills!
You can visit my Facebook page for photos and other examples of my work: / ljhcoinrings
DISCLAIMER: Yes, I can make rings from your coins. But keep in mind, ANY coin can crack regardless of how careful I am. If you are thinking of sending me your coin to be formed into a ring, understand you are assuming the risk if it cracks or breaks. I do not refund or replace customer coins if they crack or break during the process.
FAQS - Answers to some frequently asked questions, comments or concerns:
1. For all of the people posting encouraging and kind comments and suggestions, thank you for being positive and helpful!
2. Isn't it illegal to deface currency and coins?
Only if there is intent to defraud. I am not defrauding anyone or trying to pass off rings, pendants or bells as useable currency. Therefore, what I am doing is perfectly legal, as long as I never try to pass these coins off as spendable currency once they have been altered. Read the actual US code below and notice the second word, "fraudulently", is the key to this misunderstanding of the law.
18 US Code Ch. 17: COINS AND CURRENCY § 331 - Mutilation, diminution, and falsification of coins
"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; or
Whoever fraudulently possesses, passes, utters, publishes, or sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or brings into the United States, any such coin, knowing the same to be altered, defaced, mutilated, impaired, diminished, falsified, scaled, or lightened-
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both."
What I am doing is NOT illegal.
3. Where did I get my equipment and how much did I spend on it?
There is no one place where I got everything. Ultimately, you need to do your own research and figure out what works for you and your budget. Also, most of what I purchased was over three years ago ( November and December of 2019). So some of the items may no longer be offered by these companies.
I got into this hobby knowing I wanted to do it as a business. So, I initially spent around $1k for most of my tools. I have since added about $500+ worth of supplies and continue to fine tune what I have.
That being said, here are some of my sources for tools. I do not receive any compensation for sharing nor am I affiliated with any of these businesses.
Coins - I purchase coins from coin shops, coin shows, private sellers and friends.
Harbor Freight - I purchased my one-ton and six-ton presses at a store near me. I also purchased the white nylon hammer, brass-head hammer, cheap teflon tape, metal files, doming block set, drill bits, sandpaper, polishing compound and other misc. supplies like rubber gloves and a work bench to hold my 6-ton press.
Menards, Home Depot - Dremel tool and attachments, steel wool, sheet sandpaper, Blue Monster Teflon tape
Legacy Brand Coin Ring Tools - coinringtoolsllc.com/
Most of my dies, folding cones, coin pushers, edge polishing set, doming tools, Swedish wrap dies were/are purchased from Legacy. I bought my punch sets from them as well. They are my go-to supplier for dies because of the good quality and reasonable prices compared to some of the other brands.
Amazon- I did a lot of comparison shopping to figure out the best items and prices for me:
deburring tool, ring stretcher, tongs, fingernail sanding blocks, steel ring mandrel, over-sized ring mandrel, jewelers polishing cloths, as well as lots of different jewelry making supplies like jump rings and hardware for coin ring bells.
4. I do this as a hobby business. It is not my fulltime work, it is supplemental income.
THANKS FOR WATCHING!
My other Facebook pages to check out:
Metal Detecting and Treasure Hunting: / treasurefindermn
Wood working and other misc reclaimed materials projects: / reclaimedcreationsmn
MnemeTherapy, my full-time vocation: / art4all.llc

[@Horus9339]

Well done, thank you for sharing your time with us.

[@Ottonic6]

Quality takes time. It turned out great. You'll get faster in time (no rush). Thanks for sharing

[@MrDirtFisher]

Great job and what a beautiful ring!

[@starforged]

On annealing things burn at different temperatures. A magic marker will disappear at annealing temp. Scraping wood will leave a black line. Or you can buy heat sticks.

[@2006450rider]

I gave one of these to my Mom for her birthday several years ago and she LOVES IT! Still wears it all the time.

[@gregfaris6959]

Beautiful Work!

[@jkonet1]

I love the look of these fine rings, good job!

[@phillipbarnhouse496]

That was a real nice job !!! Thanks for sharing , I’m just beginning to start baking a few rings .

[@Coinstojewelry]

Absolutely freaking awesome! Thank you for such an instructional video! I’m looking forward to seeing more videos, so thank you once again.

[@williamoverton1548]

Now I know why bearings are so valuable Thank-You!!!

[@chrisstreeter71]

amazing that looks great! 👌👍

[@robertlangley258]

Good video. Nice ring. Thank you for sharing young man.

[@keithberryman7000]

Great job! Good info! 👍

[@IRONHEAD12701]

Absolutely❤️gorgeous ring. I’m a coin🇺🇸collector and my late uncle taught me, how to make a ring from a coin using a steel soup spoon. Thank you🤙🏼for sharing the video post and best of🍀luck to you and yours.

[@LarryJHoman]

Thanks, man! I appreciate the positivity!

[@Shrubfan]

Very cool, good job!

[@oldpain7625]

Nothing 19th century should be destroyed anymore. Even if it's beautifully destroyed into a ring. Preserve history.

[@ParanormalHorrorArtist]

Great tip holding folding cone so the weight doesn't misalign it. Just used my arbor press today and glad I found your channel

[@ndfleet3601]

Great job!

[@CharlesFriezo]

Great Process, Good Luck! Very nice looking ring.

[@franklysharp3977]

Very cool. Nice work.

[@kenfine1469]

This was excellent!

[@aocplusme5676]

Looks fantastic!

[@LarryJHoman]

Thank you!

[@fredpenner5667]

Great video. Thank you. I searched for it as I'm doing my first larger coin and came to find out that it was too big for my reducing die! So it looks like I need to buy a few tools.

[@BarberBobDetecting]

Really enjoyed this video. I found an old silver Florin coin ring metal detecting couple years ago and was amazed by the precision and craftsmanship. Good to see how these are created.

[@LarryJHoman]

Thanks, Bob! Happy Thanksgiving!

[@JoeDurbin]

Great Video Larry !!

[@Drake621]

Nice job very well instructed

[@glasswinder]

That was awesome. You done a great job.

[@starforged]

I will need to disagree with you. I think you have done a great video. You explain things very well and you are easy to understand. Thank you.

[@chrisdecker1443]

Looks good. Nice job guy.

[@TC-bj8pu]

Great job!!! Enjoyed your video too!!!

[@barnardb01]

Your problem with cracking is because you are hardening the metal with your quench. Using water to quench is the worst choice when you want to harden metal. You are potentially introducing cracks. You should allow the coin to cool down slowly. That releases internal stress.

[@jimfurr81]

Quenching with water is to Harden metal. No need to quench it until you want it hardened.

[@LarryJHoman]

Thank you for your input. I did an experiment a couple days ago. I made another Morgan coin ring, from a Morgan in really good shape, and did not quench at all after each anneal. It's the first Morgan I have ever had crack on me, and, rather quickly. I have never had his problem with a Morgan which I was quenching each time I re-annealed. I think I will stick with my annealing/quenching process as I have been doing for the past three years and others have been using for many more years than I have.

[@Coldgecko]

You did great. I'm not into these rings -- but I can appreciate your effort.

[@JTCoinRings]

Awesome job

[@stevanrose7439]

Instead of paper towel for the cushion on the ring stretcher try using denim from an old pair of jeans. I’ve had good luck with it.

[@LarryJHoman]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@losingbaggage]

A subject I'd never heard of but found most interesting. Thank you.

[@gafarm1963]

Looks great nicely done !!!

[@LarryJHoman]

Thank you so much!

[@roxanneherrman2107]

Dude! Your video is the bomb! I sures heck couldn't do any better than you did. You kept my attention, didn't fumble over your words, and kept me on track with your instructions!!! I'd like to learn to-torials (didn't say I could spell!!!) From someone like you.

[@blackwolf6532]

great job

[@ordinaryguy6869]

You did a beautiful job, Larry. With the humble shop and equipment that you have, I'd say you did a wonderful job. And the fact that you've only been doing this for 6 months is very good.

[@LarryJHoman]

Thank you, Ordinary Guy! It has been fun learning the craft.

[@inthelandofmilkandhoney457]

Awesome 👍

[@williamstidham2163]

You did one of the most informative ring making videos on KZbin, Happy thanksgiving & good luck on your new venture. Great looking ring, Someone is going to be happy with there new ring

[@LarryJHoman]

Thank you!

[@EssexSilvering]

Final result looked great, ... Well done, keep them coming with other coin rings ;-)

[@LarryJHoman]

Thank you, Dave!

[@simoneverett6081]

Fascinating. Thank you.

[@megaglowz8540]

There is no price for something made by hand or a gift made for you personally by someone. Certain things cannot be purchased and can never be replaced. Thank you for this video. Many thanks!!

[@LoneWrencher]

we used to make coin rings by tapping the edge of the coin with a table spoon while rotating the coin and last we would punch the hole,took a long time but it worked

[@LifeUser]

Yeah, I made one in 1969, it was a 1942 silver dollar. My daughter still has it and wears it sometimes at family reunions.

[@langjr0]

@@LifeUsermaybe you mean a silver half-dollar: they didn’t make a silver dollar in 1942.

[@CharlieSeattle1]

Excellent!

[@charlesworthington5466]

Just a tip if you mark the coin with a sharpie pin and heat it until the mark from the sharpie pen disappears then it is perfectly ready to quench it works for silver all grades of silver even 9999 and any other metal copper i have not used it for a gold coin because i don't have that kind of money so i do not no if it works for gold but the sharpie pen works really good and you don't have to turn the lights off.

[@flatworm00]

This was really cool.

[@cab102361]

Very nice.

[@moosewild4239]

Nice work.

[@madhurai1332]

very nice

[@dannpd1955]

Very cool

[@peterblench2332]

Hi Larry, I to create coin rings, just something I have found is that using ‘white vinegar’ after annealing keeps the coin from darkening, I.e. more ‘silver’ looking, easier to see any cracking that might occur. Give it a try : vinegar vs water.

[@LarryJHoman]

Thanks, Peter! Yes, I do use that method nowadays unless I want more of a patina. Then I just leave the firescaling on it for a more durable patina than liver of sulphur, and polish the high points. Great tip!

[@blacksteelinthehourofchaos4921]

Nice work buddy!

[@CHELLIE2408]

Nice Job on Making Rings from Coins, You dont need to Quench the metal after heating it up, Quenching Hot metal Actually makes the Metal Brittle again, Allow the metal to cool down Slowly, That will keep the metal soft. keep up the great work.

[@LarryJHoman]

I am often in too much of a hurry to let it cool down slowly. Quenching it works well enough for me. Thanks for the input!

[@Onethirtytwo]

To soften the coin, heat it and let it cool slowly without quenching it. Quenching just hardens it again

[@LarryJHoman]

That only applies to iron. Softer metals are still soft after quenching. They will work harden as you fold and stretch, which is why they need to be re-annealed over and over, to avoid cracking.

[@fattmouth7715]

@@LarryJHoman not trying to be a smart alec but I’m not sure about that one..... nice work though

[@billygroves8236]

Awesome job buddy

[@bienvenidorivera6582]

You did a great job thank you

[@scurling2993]

Very nice work. The ring is beautiful. I'm sure you are a pro at the video work by now.

[@thomascoyne157]

Nice work 👍👍👍👍⚽️🇬🇧

[@americantherapy1366]

The key to using the Ross push followers from Jason's Works is to remove the teflon tape from the very edge of the coin you want to press against..If you don't, the pusher will slide off the teflon edge while being pressed (as if it were lubricated) thus damaging to your follower.. An easy way to remove the teflon from the edge before pressing with the Ross push followers is to place the teflon edge you want to remove upside down in a reduction die and just lightly bump it a few times and the tape will easily pull off. Hope this helps

[@GR8SCOTT]

Just got ya!!! Looking forward to your content!!!

[@3DWoodWorks]

Nice Ring

[@stephenrocks7004]

Coin rings were originally made in the late 1800s 1900s using a spoon and rotating the coin beating it with a spoon until it sandwiched out in two different directions then drilling and sizing. The coin design was only on the inside of the ring

[@langjr0]

I’m 76 and when I was in the US Navy 55 years ago I made a ring out of a nickel using a spoon; turned out pretty good, but you don’t see the actual nickel like you do with this Morgan dollar. This is more amazing ; it looks great! I have a few hundred Morgan’s and Peace Dollars and would like to try this, or even on an American Silver Eagle. They’re actually worth more as a ring than a coin right now. Great job!

[@stephenrocks7004]

@@langjr0hope it was a silver nickel.

[@thebushmaster1276]

I don’t quite get how a ring stretcher works, can you explain what the mechanism does to stretch the ring?

[@LarryJHoman]

Sure! There is a post that runs up the middle of the four-piece outer shell. When the lever is pushed, it forces the center shaft upwards which causes the coin to widen slightly. Each time, it stretches the ring a little, which causes it to move down a little farther on the shaft and then the process is repeated until the metal begins to work harden. Once it work hardens, you need to stop and re-anneal to avoid splitting the ring.

[@KBorham]

I found your video to on-par with "professional" productions. Most of the commenters here value substance over production including me. Thank you for detailing a mysterious process!

[@LarryJHoman]

Thank you for that positive and supportive feedback! I appreciate you!

[@stevekrewson9502]

I have always liked how these rings look. Your work looks great! When and where will your next showing be? I would like to start making my own rings at some point, but think I may want one or two before then.

[@LarryJHoman]

email me at [e-mail] or I will be at the Coin Show at Roseville Skating Center, MN on December 10th from 9-3pm. Thanks for your interest!

[@mikef7879]

Hi Larry. What grit is your polishing block and where do you buy them? Thanks for sharing the video.

[@LarryJHoman]

Hi Mike. I got these from Amazon. Here is the link; www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQSK01M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 They are 100 grit on one side, 180 grit on the other. I finish off the ring using 0000 steel wool

[@alancook2752]

I have made a few,they make a big ring but nice .Get the center punch it is worth the money

[@themountainman3337]

Just ran into this video, very detailed and honestly I'd watch this over a better camera quality video if it slacked on the actual knowledge your putting out. I really appreciate it, might try one for myself or haha just buy one from you since I don't have the tools, and it wouldn't be for quantity. Keep up the good work my man!

[@geraldguenard4095]

bravo. very nice ring, keep up the videos comming. very good explanations. i love that stuff. GERRY G. from canada. Have a nice day.

[@LarryJHoman]

Thank you, Gerry G.! Happy Thanksgiving!

[@vasilestroea1978]

what are the devices you folded the coin on called.I have the press but not those cones. Thank you.

[@LarryJHoman]

They are called folding cones and folding dies. You can find them here: coinringtoolsllc.com/

[@superhawk20002]

Probably a silly question... but why not just drill out the center vs buying die/punch set and all that goes with punching out the center?

[@LarryJHoman]

Great question! In order for the folding and stretching process to work the best, the hole has to be directly in the center of the coin. Drilling leaves too much room for error (being off-center). A good punch and die set allows you to make a perfectly centered hole in the coin, which will exponentially increase your success rate in forming the ring without distortion. That being said, some coins will distort no matter how perfectly centered you make the hole. Franklin half dollars are a perfect example. They do not stretch evenly, thus creating the perfect environment for wonky rings.

[@TM15R]

If you put a piece of round shafting with snug fit down the center hole, your pusher will not collapse inside the coin.

[@timschaefer3141]

I have the one my dad made using a spoon pounding on it during all the days, weeks, months spent on transport ships island hopping in the South Pacific during WWll. He used a 1921; the year he was born. The outside looks like just a silver ring; you have to look on the inside to tell it was a silver dollar.

[@jeremiahs4992]

Nice

[@Antipodean33]

I got a 1887 silver dollar and was told it's only worth silver value. So maybe a ring like this would be a better option. Would you do this to my coin?

[@LarryJHoman]

Yes, I would be happy to make you a ring! Send me an email: [e-mail] and we can work out the details.

[@bossdogcoinrings]

Good job,keep it up. Bossdogcoinrings here.

[@LarryJHoman]

Thanks, Bossdog!

[@carlchilders2154]

Good job and thanks for posting! What size for your center punch?

[@LarryJHoman]

.625" for center hole. I don't use a punch smaller than half an inch for silver dollars.

[@keithclark8030]

Hmm, very interesting.

[@LarryJHoman]

Thanks for the view!

[@sonnymoorehouse1941]

Why are you quenching coin after annealing ? wouldent it be better to form it while is soft ? quenching hardens metal

[@LarryJHoman]

That only applies to iron.

[@dalesmith-dh6qy]

Lee or Lyman makes a chamfering tool that is conical for brass ammo cases. Inexpensive and more precise

[@LarryJHoman]

Do you have a link you can share? I'm always interested in more precise methods. Thanks!

[@geckoproductions4128]

If Im not mistaken, to heat and quench hardens metal. Heat and let cool slowly to aneal

[@LarryJHoman]

That only applies to iron. Gold, silver and copper won't harden from quenching.

[@nativewildman9335]

Cool video, the end product was awesome! Do you make copper coins into rings? I enjoy the content!

[@LarryJHoman]

Thank you for your positive feedback! Yes, I make lots of copper coin rings.

[@nativewildman9335]

@Larry J. Homan cool, and you're welcome !

[@ssf467]

Coolio

[@donaldschlag8277]

Does anyone make rings out of double eagle 20's. I see them for sale, but I don't think they're made from coins, and they probably don't have the same gold content. My dad had one from his birth year (1907), but I wouldn't consider turning it into a ring. Just curious.

[@LarryJHoman]

Yes, they have been made from double eagles. I made one at the end of October this year from an 1895 gold double eagle. facebook.com/photo?fbid=612716020640316&set=pcb.612716430640275

[@billyscgp]

I have a question I have a ring and lost a lot of weight and need is resized. I was wondering if you can make the ring smaller once finished? It is made out of a 90% 64 Kennedy half. I only use to wear an 8 so I guess 7 1/2 would be good. can that be done ?

[@LarryJHoman]

Hey Billy, yes, it can definitely be reduced. Best thing to do is go to a jeweler and get an accurate current size. Then email me at [e-mail] for further instructions. And congrats on the weight loss!

[@billyscgp]

@@LarryJHoman Thank you but it is not on good terms pancreas is dieing terminal ill. Lost 160 pounds in 8 months. And now just had surgery to have Cancer cut out of my forearm I have been put threw the mill. 3 BACK SURGERIES 3 knee surgeries. List goes on have to laugh or it be so depressing be like a lame horse time to shoot me ! Lol

[@LarryJHoman]

@@billyscgp So sorry to hear about your trials, Billy. Sounds really tough. I will pray for your condition to improve.

[@jimnaz5267]

i enjoyed watching and learning. I would like it if you had shown the finished product for more than 2 seconds. this was like funning past the Mona Lisa with barely a glance.

[@ChrisGageTX]

Funning?

[@LarryJHoman]

My apologies. Camera batteries ran out and I had to get it in the mail.

[@capthappy345]

Never new u could do that sort of reducing.

[@gregfaris6959]

Doesn't cold quenching degrade the annealing process?

[@LarryJHoman]

When dealing with iron, yes, it will harden it. But not with silver, copper, brass, bronze and gold.

[@gregfaris6959]

@@LarryJHoman Good to know, Thanks!

[@stephenrocks7004]

The coin quenching is the annealing process. When silver is heated and then cooled quickly it softens unlike steel or iron.

[@stevanrose7439]

I have found foreign countries coins to have very beautiful designs. And they can be picked up for not much money. You do need to be careful of some steel coins because they are really hard to work with. Take along a magnetic when you are looking 👀 for these coins.

[@LarryJHoman]

Thanks, Steven. Yes, I actually started with foreign coins. Inexpensive and like you said, some of them make beautiful rings! I have also figured out not to use the steel ones. They are too hard on the dies.

[@daveneal7577]

Awsome ring

[@marcsant7087]

Very Nice, what is the cost to make one like that for me

[@LarryJHoman]

Using a 1921 coin, $165 + tax and shipping. checkout.square.site/merchant/79HF3X6DPN36E/checkout/VKDC33GLXF5WPTWYKXRN6NVQ

[@ordinaryguy6869]

Did you buy the Legacy Coin Ring Maker's Bundle?

[@LarryJHoman]

Not the bundle, but I did get most of my dies from them.

[@nickknickerbocker6415]

💫Nice Job 🪄 Where can I find 15mm Wide gold plated Rings❓️

[@LarryJHoman]

Thanks. I only work with coins, which are not normally gold plated. So I am not able to answer your question.

[@bonscotty67]

My dad had two mason jars filled with silver dollars from around 1859 to 1889. When I was about 14, I found the pawn shop giving me around $25 a piece. And this was back in The early '80s so I could party for a whole weekend for a buck. That was my mindset at the time still got a few left. No idea what they're worth today.

[@LarryJHoman]

We all make mistakes!

[@langjr0]

About $40. They were first made in 1879.

[@bonscotty67]

@@langjr0 yeah. That's kind of the range I thought of them being today. They were more nostalgic and sentimental than anything else. But 25 bucks for the weekend when you're 16 years old in the '80s was to much temptation lol

[@langjr0]

@@bonscotty67 I would have done the same. I bought a bunch in 2018 for only $17.

[@mikefahlenkamp9084]

Looks very nice...I will say that when you were centering the piece on the drill for burnishing you might try using a nice flat piece of wood or metal instead of stopping and using your gloves... just thought... I know nothing...

[@LarryJHoman]

Thanks, Mike, for your kind words and your thoughts about the process. I have more control pushing the ring on the rubber mandrel rather using a piece of wood, but I appreciate your suggestion. Blessings!

[@raulverdugo4207]

If you wait longer to quench, let your silver cool off more, it won’t crystallize and cause cracking just to kind of help you out bud

[@LarryJHoman]

Thanks! I'll give that a try.

[@johntorres3473]

That's awesome dude, where can I buy one . thanks

[@LarryJHoman]

Thank you! checkout.square.site/merchant/79HF3X6DPN36E/checkout/VKDC33GLXF5WPTWYKXRN6NVQ

[@brianconnolly299]

On my third coin ring been wearing one over 20 years married for 38 years im a construction worker siver is no competition for my line of work but I dig these rings can't tell they're coins anymore except from inside what's the price for one of yours id buy one from ya rookie or not

[@LarryJHoman]

Hey Brian! Thanks for your interest. Go ahead and email me at [e-mail] and we can discuss options for you. Blessings!