NNP

Scrap Force.  The use of a piece of scrap metal as a force opposite a high relief area on a uniface medallic item; also called dummy force. This metalworking procedure reduces the number of blows and the amount of time necessary to fully strike up a high relief area opposite a blank area or a blank reverse. It produces an irregular shaped indentation on the reverse – roughly the same shape as the scrap metal being used as the force. Such scrap force pieces can be used over and over again as it becomes work hardened and each new blank is in annealed soft condition (until striking makes it work hardened). More than one piece can be used, piled one on top of another, as shown in

the drawing. A very thin blank or a shell blank can utilize a scrap force very well. Hollowback  medals are often observed with some reverse indentations indicating the use of scrap force during their striking.

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