This American art form began during the Depression era, when nickels were carved by “hobos” around the fire in a variety of patterns. This simple, basic engraving developed into a vibrant art form. Carving coins is a great introduction to microcarving and basic engraving techniques. In this two-day class, students will work on several patterns and should expect to finish at least two coins. Matthew will begin the workshop with a classic skull carving, students will learn basic layout, sculpting, and finishing techniques for these carvings. A second project will include background removal and preparation to create a night sky, including bead-setting small gemstones as stars. The addition of small gemstones to the work will also be covered. Using only a few tools, including a pneumatic engraver, a micromotor (or Foredom tool), and an Optivisor, the design possibilities are limitless.