Definition

• Soft Metal Distortion.  Deforming the original configuration of a metal piece made from a composition so soft it bends or distorts very easily. The distortion is usually of two kinds: bending out of shape or mashed detail. Soft metal composition is called an amalgam (the word is related to mercury and analogy is easy to apply – metal that is almost fluid). Such amalgamous metals include tin, lead, some of their alloys, and pot metal (an indistinct alloy high in soft metal content). Other than use as die trials, soft metals obviously are not a recommended composition for numismatic items because of their ease of distortion. However, soft metals have had a widespread use for three centuries. Most prevalent in the 20th century medallic field, are the plaques and relief objects diestruck in Japan in pot metal for world export.

  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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