How do you expand a coin? Surely you place it under something weighty to flatten it. But what if the coin isn’t perfectly round? Most coins aren’t, and any imperfections will be magnified by this process.
In my first Best in Show article, I wrote that a good expanded shell has minimal distortion, solid edge coverage, and is deceptive when viewed rim side up. It’s pointedly easier to describe than to produce, and from my research, most coin gaffers devise a method that is unique to them. Some artisans take this secret to their grave.
When master machinist Todd Lassen passed away in 2021, his machines, tools, and other belongings were sold through an estate auction. Just a few months earlier, Todd and his friend Craig Ousterling had been planning to move from their homes in Colorado and California to Florida to open a new shop with more equipment and increased capabilities. Instead, Craig received the devastating news from Todd’s daughter and purchased the related lots from the auction. During pickup, Craig asked the estate planner to load any “junk” into his rental truck rather than throw it away. This will become important soon.