XN000022-1977-11-16 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1977

YEAR OF HORSE GOLD COIN PRESENTS CHALLENGE TO ROYAL MINT

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A MASTER CRAFTSMAN AT LONDON'S ROYAL MINT HAS BEEN PRESENTED WITH AN UNUSUALLY CHALLENGING TASK IN PRODUCING THE NEXT GOLD COIN

IN THE GOVERNMENT'S LUNAR NEW YEAR SERIES.

THE DESIGN OF THE YEAR OF THE HORSE COIN IS BASED ON AN

ANCIENT BRONZE STATUE.

THE KNOT TIED WITH THE TAIL INDICATES THAT IT IS A HORSE FOR BATTLE AND TO SHOW THAT ITS SPEED IS GREATER THAN THAT OF A BIRD, ITS RIGHT HIND HOOF IS PLACED ON A SWALLOW IN FLIGHT.

THE BEAUTY AND ANIMATION OF THIS ORIGINAL SCULPTURE HAD TO BE CAPTURED - AS OPPOSED TO THE APPEARANCE OF A CONTEMPORARY HORSE.

MANY HOURS HAVE BEEN SPENT PREPARING A MODEL AND MODIFYING THE DETAIL UNTIL THE ENGRAVER PERFECTED A FINAL VERSION WHICH BOTH CAPTURED THE SPIRIT OF THE ORIGINAL STATUE AND A MODERN ARTIST'S TREATMENT OF THE DESIGN.

THE MAIN CHALLENGE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THIS COIN CENTRED ON THE PREPARATION OF THE RELIEF PLASTER MODEL WHICH IS THE STARTING POINT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE MASTER COINING TOOLS.

THE ROYAL MINT ENGRAVER WORKING FROM AN ARTIST'S SKETCH AND PHOTOGRAPHS HAD TO TRANSLATE THE APPEARANCE OF A THREE DIMENSIONAL STATUE ONTO A LOW RELIEF MODEL SUITABLE FOR COINAGE RE-PRODUCTION.

ONCE THE MODEL WAS COMPLETE, THE FIRST STEP IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE SERIES OF MASTER TOOLS NEEDED TO PRODUCE THE COIN WAS THE TRANSFERENCE OF ITS DETAILS THROUGH THE USE OF A REDUCTION MACHINE.

A TINY STYLUS TRACES THE OUTLINE OF THE DESIGN FROM A NICKEL FACED ELECTRO WHILE A HIGH SPEED CUTTER AUTOMATICALLY MACHINES EVERY DETAIL ONTO A REDUCTION PUNCH.

SPECIMEN PRE-PRODUCTION COINS ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN HONG KONG BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH.

THE YEAR OF THE HORSE COIN WILL BE THE FOURTH GOLD COIN THE GOVERNMENT HAS PRODUCED BEGINNING WITH ONE TO COMMEMORATE THE QUEEN'S VISIT HERE IN 1975.

MEANWHILE, IF DEMAND IS SUFFICIENT THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE GOVERNMENT MAY PRODUCE A SPECIAL GOLD COIN COLLECTORS CABINET, A PROTOTYPE OF WHICH IS NOW ON DISPLAY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE.

AFTER ONLY FOUR WORKING DAYS SINCE THE CABINET WAS FIRST PUT ON DISPLAY, STAFF AT THE PUBLICATIONS CENTRE HAVE RECEIVED OVER 60 APPLICATIONS FOR FORMS WHICH INTERESTED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ASKED TO FILL IN AND RETURN TO THE TREASURY.