About coincutart.com and Ordering
Welcome to Coin Cut Art. I have been in business on the internet since 1999 and cutting since the 80's. I specialize in quality and affordability of the disappearing folk art of coin cutting. I've added a modern day fine art finish to a folk art that goes back more than 400 years. Although coin cutting has always been considered jewelry, I have changed that trend, thinking outside the box with golf ball markers, key chains, and my original jigsaw puzzles.
Coin cutting is an art of patience, and techniques developed only with years of practice and making lots of mistakes. For that reason, the detail and designs I style will always remain handcut. If you have any comments or Questions...please don't hesitate to send me an e-mail at grinan2@netzero.com. I guarantee my fine art finishing will make you happy and NEVER break.
The Law
Section 331. Title 18, U.S. CODE: Prohibits among other things the fraudulent alteration and mutilation of United States and foreign coins. This statute does not prohibit the mutilation of coins if done without fraudulent intent or if the mutilated coins are not used fraudulently.
This Law was written with the sole intention of protecting the tax payers investment in coins. Specifically the silver. When coins were made from precious metals such as silver it was fraudulent to melt the coin and sell those metals for a profit. In the US, there is actually no defacing law, it is our money and as long as we do not have fraudulent intent, we can do what we want to it. Just another great reason to be an American!!!
History of Coin Cutting and Coin Cut Art by "Grin-an"
The art of Coin cutting goes back more than 400 years to medieval times. Knights would carve their seal into coins and give them to their loved ones before going into battle. In those times coins were more rare and usually only seen by middle and upper classes making these "coin piercings" very rare and special. Throughout time artisans and tinks often manipulated coins to pass time, earn a living or make political statements. I’ve talked to many war veterans that remember making various things from coins to pass time. In the 60's, 70's, and 80's, coin cutters were very popular at trade shows and renaissance fairs. As modern technology improves and computers and machines take over, these hand arts are disappearing. The art of coin cutting however, can only be done by hand. It requires a touch that is developed with years of practice and patience. Just as the art of watercolor painting will always require a human touch, as will the art of coin cutting.
When I was 12, my father taught me to cut out coins on a Loony dollar from Canada. We lived on Beaver Island, Lake Michigan’s northern most inhabited island, and he cut them with a small saw and blade and sold them on leather cords as pendants to the tourists. Cutting coins was the last thing I wanted to be doing at 12. Hanging out with friends, fishing, sailing, and camping were about the only things on my mind. I always loved making jewelry however and learned a lot about beadwork and different kinds of jewelry making techniques over the years. In 1998, "as a joke", I cut out a Canadian Nickel, the Beaver, soldered a Tie Tack post to the reverse side and placed it on eBay for $2. I never dreamed that it would sell or even get any interest. As the week went on, it slowly drew interest and I was beside myself. In the last two days of the auction, I watched as this simple Cut-Out nickel was being bid higher 50 cents at a time one bidder at a time. The final price was $54. A couple of students from MIT, their mascot was a Beaver, had found this and were battling each other for it to wear to class, which they wore ties to quite regularly. That was followed rather suddenly by requests for more, an award from a scholarship committee, and other frats and colleges wanting different coins with their mascots. The statehood quarter released in 1999 gave me a new canvas to practice my art. It turned my hobby into a passion. As the Internet and other retail opportunities responded, my passion became an obsession.
In July 2007, when the construction industry collapsed, my wife encouraged me to try making that obsession a career. During the following months I had the opportunity to try new ideas, build on old ideas and really enjoy what I love, coin cutting. It didn't take long to fall in love with working at home and being Mr. Mom. My son, Jacob, has been cutting since he was 20 months old simply because he "wants to be just like dad". I have built him his own little workbench next to mine, given him all the tools he needs, and even taught him proper safety habits. Since the creation of my original "Numismatic Jigsaw Puzzles" in May 2008, I must say I have never been happier. I still operate my business with "ol school" business ethics and practices, make each piece the best I can, keep my art affordable, and stand behind all my work.
I now cut over 350 coins. Have more than 10,000 different variations. I have now tracked my art being sold in 55 different countries, every state in the US, and am always adding and looking for retail distributors. I still manage to do all my own website design and I try to keep that personal touch businesses today have lost. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments that may help. Please check back often as I am always adding new coins and products to my inventory.