Coin / medal with inlay

Abstract

Coin / Medal (2) with a disc-shaped base part (4) made of at least one metal alloy, which has a base part surface (15) on one end face (6) into which a relief structure (8) is incorporated, and with an inlay (10) made of a material different from the base part (4), which is held at the front (6), characterized in that the inlay (10) is made of bismuth (W) and forms a crystalline inlay surface (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a coin, a medal, or a coin bar according to the preamble of claim 1. The coin / medal is formed in at least two parts and has a disc-shaped, in particular circular disc-shaped, base part made of at least one metal alloy. This base part forms a base part surface on one end face, into which a relief structure is incorporated, for example by a deforming process, such as in particular embossing, and / or by a machining process, such as in particular milling. At least one inlay is also held on this end face, which is made of a material that is different from the at least one metal alloy of the base part. The inlay can in particular consist of a different material and have a different color and / or surface texture.

[0002] For example, coins or medals are known in the prior art in which the base part is formed by a piece of precious metal or a piece coated and embossed with precious metal, such as silver. A smaller precious metal coin, such as a gold coin, is held to this base part and is visually integrated into the relief structure of the base part.

[0003] For coins and medals of this type, which consist of at least two parts, there is a constant demand on the market for new design options, particularly with regard to colouring and the creation of optical effects.

[0004] The object of the invention is to meet the existing market need for a generic coin / medal and to enable a novel design.

[0005] This problem is solved by a coin / medal having the features of claim 1. The inlay is made of bismuth and forms a crystalline inlay surface. The inlay can be formed from a coherent crystalline structure, an arrangement of multiple crystals, or simply a single crystal. By using bismuth to produce the inlay, novel and individual optical effects can be achieved. In particular, the inlay surface can be formed from crystals arranged individually relative to one another. Furthermore, the inlay surface can exhibit different colors and different light reflection behavior depending on the viewing angle.In particular, in conjunction with the surface design of the relevant front side or its relief structure, a special and novel optical effect can be created for the correspondingly designed coin / medal.

[0006] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the inlay is housed in an inlay receptacle machined into the front surface of the base part to ensure secure support and to integrate the inlay surface particularly well into the front side. For example, it is preferred if the crystalline bismuth surface is essentially completely embedded in the front side or if the inlay surface is essentially flush with the surface of the base part. Alternatively, the inlay receptacle can also be milled into the front side of the base part.

[0007] It is advantageous if the inlay receiver is cup-shaped and the inlay forms a complementary underside. This allows for a tight fit of the inlay in the receiver.

[0008] Advantageously, the inlay receptacle tapers towards a receiving base, and the inlay tapers towards the inlay underside, both conically and at a consistent angle. This allows for particularly easy and play-free insertion of the inlay into the inlay receptacle.

[0009] It is also advantageous if the inlay is circular or circular disc-shaped, allowing a preferred rotational position of the inlay within the front face of the base part to be selected depending on the shape of the inlay surface. Alternatively, the inlay obtained from a bismuth structure can also have any other known and suitable shape, such as oval, kidney-shaped, or polygonal.

[0010] Advantageously, the inlay is held concentrically with respect to the base part, whereby the inlay surface can be made relatively large compared to the base part surface.

[0011] Alternatively, it is advantageous if at least one inlay is mounted eccentrically relative to the base part. This allows the inlay to create a special optical effect within the relief structure of the base part's surface and, for example, form a visually distinct graphic element.

[0012] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the inlay is fixed in the inlay socket using an adhesive bond, such as epoxy resin. This allows the separately manufactured inlay to be connected to the base part particularly easily and securely.

[0013] Advantageously, the inlay with the crystalline inlay surface is produced by melting and subsequently cooling bismuth in a bowl-shaped container. As the bismuth melt cools, crystals can form, which can then be used to create the crystalline surface structure of the inlay. By controlling the cooling time, the desired color of the inlay surface can also be achieved. After cooling, the inlay can be relatively easily removed from the particularly conically shaped container. The inlay is then available with the crystalline inlay surface and the conically shaped underside, which is adapted to the shape of the inlay holder. In this way, after minor reworking, the inlay can be easily and play-freely connected to the base part.

[0014] It is pointed out that all features of the subject matter according to the invention described above are interchangeable or combinable with one another, unless an exchange or combination thereof is excluded for technical reasons.

[0015] The figures illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention. They show: Fig. 1 a view of a front side of a coin / medal according to the invention, Fig. 2 a section through the coin / medal after Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a view of the coin / medal after Fig. 2 in the separated state of an inlay compared to a base part, Fig. 4 a cut of the inlay after Fig. 3 in its manufacture and Fig. 5 a view of the end face of an alternative embodiment of the coin / medal.

[0016] Fig. 1 shows a coin / medal 2 with a circular disk-shaped base part 4, which forms a front side 6. An exemplary relief structure 8 is incorporated into the front side 6 of the base part 4. The relief structure can be produced by a deforming process, such as embossing, and / or by a machining process, such as milling. In addition, an inlay 10 is held on the front side 6, which is, for example, concentrically embedded in the base part 4. As an alternative to the circular disk-shaped design of the coin / medal 2 shown, it can also have any other shape known for coins and medals or be designed as a coin bar.

[0017] The inlay 10 is formed from bismuth W or bismuth and has a crystalline inlay surface 12. The inlay 10 can, as shown, be formed from a coherent crystalline structure or, alternatively, from an arrangement of several crystals or merely from a single crystal.

[0018] As is particularly evident from Fig. 2, the inlay 10 is held in an inlay receptacle 14 which is incorporated into the base part 4. For this purpose, the inlay receptacle 14 can be formed, for example, as part of the relief structure 8. Alternatively, the inlay receptacle 14 can also be formed separately from the relief structure 8, for example by milling or embossing. Preferably, the inlay receptacle 14 is shaped complementarily to the inlay 10 and dimensioned such that the inlay 10 can be inserted into the inlay receptacle 14 without play and its inlay surface 12 is essentially flush with a base part surface 15.

[0019] In any case, the inlay holder 14, as can be seen in particular from Fig. 3, is preferably cup-shaped and tapers conically towards a receiving base 16. Complementary to this, a contour K of the inlay 10 also tapers towards an inlay underside 18.

[0020] The inlay 10 is used for this purpose, as shown in Fig. 4, is manufactured separately from the base part 4 in a container 20, which is also cup-shaped and tapers conically towards a container bottom 22. To produce the inlay 10, the bismuth W is heated in the container 20 and cooled again, whereby the crystalline inlay surface 12 is formed.

[0021] After a possible post-processing of the inlay 10 produced in this way, such as after cutting or grinding, the inlay 10 is, as shown in Fig. 3, is inserted into the inlay receptacle 14. To securely fix the inlay 10 relative to the base part 4, an adhesive layer 24 is provided between the inlay underside 18 and the receiving base 16 of the inlay receptacle 14 to create an adhesive bond. If the inlay receptacle 14 and the complementary inlay underside 18 are circular in shape, the inserted inlay 10 can be rotated into a preferred rotational position relative to the base part 4 until the adhesive layer 24 hardens. Furthermore, the inlay 10 is held in the inlay receptacle 14 without any play.

[0022] As an alternative to the concentric fixation of the inlay 10 within the base part surface 15 of the base part 4, the inlay 10 can also be fixed eccentrically relative to the base part 4, as can be seen from Fig. 5. As a result, the inlay 10 made of bismuth, in conjunction with the relief structure 8 of the base part surface, can function as a visually striking element or as an image component of a logo or motif.

[0023] In addition, as can be seen from Fig. 5, at least one further inlay 10' is provided.

[0024] Furthermore, as an alternative to the circular disk shape shown and as an alternative to the formation as a coherent bismuth structure, the inlay 10 can also be produced in any other known shape suitable for use on a coin / medal 2, such as, for example, as an oval, kidney-shaped or rectangular structure as well as as an arrangement of individual bismuth crystals or as a single crystal.

[0025] It is pointed out that all elements and features of the various embodiments of the subject matter according to the invention described above are interchangeable or combinable with one another, unless an exchange or combination thereof is excluded for technical reasons.

Claims

[1] Coin / Medal (2) with a disc-shaped base part (4) made of at least one metal alloy, which has a base part surface (15) on one end face (6) into which a relief structure (8) is incorporated, and with an inlay (10) made of a different material to the base part (4), which is held on the front side (6), characterized by that the inlay (10) is made of bismuth (W) and forms a crystalline inlay surface (12). [2] Coin / medal according to claim 1, characterized by that the inlay (10) is received in an inlay receptacle (14) incorporated into the base part surface (15). [3] Coin / medal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the inlay receptacle (14) is cup-shaped and the inlay (10) forms an inlay underside (18) shaped complementarily to the inlay receptacle (14). [4] Coin / medal according to claim 3, characterized bythat the inlay receptacle (14) tapers conically towards a receptacle base (16) and the inlay (10) tapers conically towards the inlay underside (18). [5] Coin / medal according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the inlay (10) is circular. [6] Coin / medal according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the inlay (10) is held concentrically relative to the base part (4). [7] Coin / medal according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the inlay (10) is held eccentrically relative to the base part (4). [8] Coin / medal according to claim 5, characterized by that the inlay (10) is fixed in the inlay receptacle (14) by means of an adhesive connection. [9] Coin / medal according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the inlay (10) with the crystalline inlay surface (12) is produced by melting and cooling bismuth (W) in a bowl-shaped container (20).

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