Stay Positive Always and Everywhere! a Coin of Worry From What Is Under Your Feet...

Have you ever wanted to create something incredibly simple yet completely original and unique? I often do! That’s how I came up with the idea of crafting a worry coin. What makes this coin special is that it’s made from two different materials—metal and wood. I sourced these materials from my box of scraps, where I keep leftovers from other projects. It’s the kind of stuff that’s too good to throw away but doesn’t have an immediate purpose.

1. A piece of wood
2. A piece of brass
3. Some paint
4. A bit of motivation
5. A touch of creative thinking

As mentioned, my goal was to make a coin from two materials. For the metal, I used a 4mm thick brass sheet, and for the wood, I chose a small piece of hardwood. To ensure a strong bond, I drilled several small holes into the wooden piece and added deep scratches to the brass.

For bonding the two pieces, I used a thick adhesive mixture. I believe this type of adhesive is often referred to as "cold welding." I’ve used it before, and I can confidently say it creates a very durable and reliable connection.

Once the materials were bonded, I mounted the piece on a lathe and turned it down to a 38mm diameter. In my opinion, this size is ideal for coins and tokens. Making a larger coin would be interesting, but it wouldn’t be practical to carry around.

After the lathe work, I found the center of the piece using a homemade square tool. Fun fact: I actually made this square specifically for tasks like these.

I had prepared a fun design and text for the coin in advance. Honestly, creating the design sometimes takes longer than the crafting itself. But it’s worth it—designing is a very enjoyable process where creativity shines.

For the engraving, I used a 1mm bit for the background and a 0.1mm bit for the design. I secured the piece on the machine using a custom-made fiberglass clamp.

To make the design stand out, I filled its grooves and scratches. Some time ago, I bought a box of assorted dental burrs, and this project was the perfect occasion to use them. These tools are incredibly handy!

For the final touch, I darkened the metal using a chemical agent.

Of course, leaving the “face of death” completely black (haha!) wouldn’t look right, so I cleaned it with fine-grit sandpaper. However, I chose not to polish the brass. Recently, I’ve come to prefer the look of unpolished metal—it retains the piece's unique details. Polishing, much like coating wood with lacquer, can sometimes hide the material’s natural character. Instead, I treated the wooden part with oil, which brought out its beautiful, natural texture.

I also added some artistic elements to the wooden side, giving it its own “design.”

I got so carried away with this little project that I ended up making two identical coins. With the holidays approaching, these cheerful coins will make wonderful gifts.

P.S. Stay positive always and everywhere!

Anton Pisarev