AI is an inevitable evolution in many aspects of the minting business. At its core, it automates repetitive tasks, making it a powerful tool for numerous applications within a modern mint.
From marketing and forecasting to support and prediction, AI offers capabilities that can enhance efficiency and accuracy across various operations. It can analyse market trends to inform design decisions, predict demand to optimise production schedules, and provide customer support through chatbots and automated systems. While these applications are vast and transformative, I will focus specifically on its impact within my area of expertise: coin design.
Throughout the history of coin design, tools have progressively modernised, with mints embracing each new wave of technology. From rudimentary hand sculpting tools and plasters, to pantographs, digital scans, and ultimately, coins designed digitally.
Over the past two decades, techniques have shifted towards digital methods or a blend of traditional hand sculpting and digital scanning. The digital era has brought advantages such as faster error correction, enhanced detail, and the ability to replicate designs with precision.
One of the primary challenges in modern coin design is the time it takes to bring a design to market. Traditionally, sculpting a coin with a head could take around 50 hours, while a more intricate design might require up to 150 hours. The skill involved is akin to traditional marble or wood carving, where the initial stages of removing or adding material in the right places are the most challenging. The finer details make a design stand out, but laying the correct foundation is essential and time-consuming.
Looking to the future, it is conceivable that AI could significantly accelerate the coin design process. For example, a design that typically takes 150 hours could potentially see a 60% reduction in time spent on creating its foundational elements, saving up to 90 hours.
But what if that percentage were higher? This reduction in time would allow designers to focus more on refining details, making design changes, and taking on more bespoke projects. AI could automate the initial stages of the design process by generating 3D models. Using advanced algorithms, AI could quickly determine the optimal placement and dimensions of various design elements, reducing the need for manual adjustments
The integration of AI in coin design doesn’t just stop at timesaving. It also enhances creativity and precision, enabling designers to push the boundaries of what is possible. With AI handling the more laborious aspects of design, artists can experiment with more intricate and innovative concepts, knowing they have the technology to bring their visions to life with high accuracy. This synergy between human creativity and machine efficiency is where the true potential of AI in coin design lies.
This potential is evident in the evolution of Carveco software. Carveco has a long history of converting 2D images into 3D reliefs. Back in 1994, our technology transformed a unicorn image into a bas relief. Over the past 30 years, our technology has evolved significantly, becoming a leader in bas relief design. Whether converting an image or photograph into a bas relief or sculpting one from scratch, our expertise suggests that AI’s future role in coin design will be in reducing the time-consuming aspects, allowing designers to concentrate on the storytelling, historical significance, and legacy of their coins.
Currently, AI is fundamental in bas relief design. In my view, it could provide a solid foundation, and if utilised correctly, it could become an integral part of the design workflow.
