numismatics Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, medals and related objects. Specialists, known as numismatists, are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, but the discipline also includ ...

, a matrix is an intermediate mould used in the process of manufacturing

coin A coin is a small, flat (usually depending on the country or value), round piece of metal or plastic used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender. They are standardized in weight, and produced in large quantities at a mint in order t ...

s. The use of a matrix lengthens the production of dies, but makes for a gain in consistency.

Terminology

The matrix is an "original die": indeed it has its design in the same sense as a

die Die, as a verb, refers to death, the cessation of life. Die may also refer to: Games * Die, singular of dice, small throwable objects used for producing random numbers Manufacturing * Die (integrated circuit), a rectangular piece of a semicondu ...

. The design is incised into the matrix, which is used to create punches. Creation of a matrix addresses the basic problem for coinage of multiplying dies, i.e. having enough accurate copies of dies to produce long runs of essentially identical coins. The creation of a master punch from a matrix is called "hobbing". In contrast, a patrix is a type of master punch with a design in relief, used to create dies.

References

Numismatic terminology Currency production {{Coin-stub