ENGRAVING on Steel is chiefly employed in cutting seals, punches, matrices, and dyes, proper for striking coins, medals, and counters. The method of engraving with the instruments, &c. is the same for coins as for medals and counters: All the difference consists in their greater or less relief; the relief of coins being much less considerable than that of medals, and that of counters still less than that of coins.
Engravers in steel commonly begin with punches, which are in relief, and serve for making the creux or cavities of the matrices and dyes: though sometimes they begin with the creux or hollowness; but then it is only when the intended work is to be cut very shallow. The first thing done, is that of designing the figures; the next is the moulding them in wax, of the size and depth they are to lie, and from this wax the punch is engraved. When the punch is finished, they give it a very high temper, that it may the better bear the blows of the hammer with which it is struck to give the impression to the matrix.
The steel is made hot to soften it, that it may the more readily take the impression of the punch; and after striking the punch on it in this state, they proceed to touch up or finish the strokes and lines, where by reason of their fineness or the too great relief they are any thing defective, with steel gravers of different kinds; chisels, flatters, &c. being the principal instruments used in graving on steel.
The figure being thus finished, they proceed to engrave the rest of the medal, as the mouldings of the border, the engraved ring, letters, &c. with little steel punches, well tempered, and very sharp.