Anybody ever make a coin ring?

[alex]

Last year I proposed to my fiancee with a silver quarter giving her the story of how WW1/2 soldiers used to make rings for their sweethearts back home.

I told her that I'd make her ring out of the quarter and after realizing she was a keeper by not scoffing at the idea, we went and bought her a real engagement ring.

Anyway, I'm just about finished tinkering with this thing and she loves it. I was wondering if anyone here has experience with or knows how to plate silver with something more durable...perhaps rhodium? Despite all the "hammer forging" I've swung at it, it's still very soft. I'd like for it to be somewhat durable and even match in color better to her platinum ring. I'm in the BR area but don't mind mailing it out somewhere reputable. Not concerned with spending too much either since this thing only cost me a few bucks!

Engraving would be nice too...

Here's some pics:

 

[Mojo Rider]

A rhodium dip will make it look like white gold and the rhodium is a bit harder and more durable than silver. Just like with a white gold ring the rhodium will wear off after 2 years or so but to re-dip it is cheap. Anton's has never charged me but I did buy from them and I know down the street at Patton's Kevin charges around 35.00 for rhodium plating.

 

[themcfarland]

very cool dude, I like that idea and story.. thanks for posting

 

[glimmerman]

I've had one for about 45 years......too small to wear now! lol

 

[dantheman]

The ring looks cool and your girl is definitely a keeper . Good luck to you both .

 

[Request Dust Off]

Your fiance has some hairy knuckles for a keeper. Just sayin . . .

She probably like the aspect of you making it.

 

[Vermiform]

So how do you finish it and make it a ring? Do you cut the center out and how?

 

[mcinfantry]

Platinum is commonly rhodium played to give it shine, as is white gold

 

[alex]

I'd love her even if she shared my gorilla knuckles

So how do you finish it and make it a ring? Do you cut the center out and how?

Take a small hammer to tap it around the edges to size, then use a heavy steel spoon to beat on the coin to round/smooth it out, and then you just drill out the center.

I had it about 5mm wide before I filed it down to approx 3.5mm. I still need to taper off the edges. Here's a small video that gives you the idea of what to do. This guy didn't use a spoon though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=548qCuDHe_Q

 

[PPBart]

GASP! You do realize that it's a federal offense of some sort to deface US currency, right? Expect the black helicopters any minute now...

 

[jmckenzie]

Very Cool Idea

 

[rcm192]

Thats a badass idea, alex!

check out this guys rings, now how did he make these?!

 

[edman87k5]

Thats a badass idea, alex!

check out this guys rings, now how did he make these?!

I dont know how those are made, but that is awesome!

 

[Kcabear]

Excellent job on that! Wish I had known that before going to Tiffany's!!!!

 

[RedStickChick]

Tiffany's

Smart man.

But the quarter ring does look nice.

 

[Leonidas]

I dont know how those are made, but that is awesome!

This vid shows the basics. Drill out the center first. Insert tapered stock in the hole. Then hammer at an angle to turn the sides, instead of edge on to flatten them. Both ways are cool.

 

[alex]

Excellent job on that! Wish I had known that before going to Tiffany's!!!!

Actually, I did take her to Tiffany's. We ate the cake and everything while she tried on some rings. She wasn't very impressed. We ended up at this extraordinarily expensive place ( http://www.vancleefarpels.com/us/en/ ) where she surprisingly found something she loved and it actually stayed under budget!

Filed and polished it down to a little under 3.5mm width. Matches pretty well now but I still plan on having it plated.