Definition

• Die Block.  Water-hardened steel (bar stock, or diestock) into which a design is intended to be engraved, mechanically cut, or sunk from a hub. Most die blocks are cut from circular bar stock; however die blocks can be made from square, hexagonal or other shaped diestock. The die block is then cut down to a die blank by machining it to the required configuration, often into a cone blank or dome blank if it is to be hubbed.  After machining it is heat treated to dead soft before it is engraved, cut or hubbed into a die. It is then inspected, and if approved, it is hardened by heat treating and quenching to be able to be used as a die.

  excerpted with permission from

  An Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology

  For Artists, Makers, Collectors and Curators

  COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY D. WAYNE JOHNSON

  Roger W. Burdette, Editor

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