Thread: Resources for Coins and Metal Findings.

I've been looking through a few sites in order to purchase coins to my costumes, and I was wondering what sites/people/places you go to buy coins? I Ordered both silver and gold and from Turkish Emporium and while I like the look of the gold, the silver is way too shiny, and the metal of the coin is so thin, I'm afraid that if I don't take extra, extra precaution while beading them, they may end up cutting through the beading thread as the costume is used.

So where do you order your coins from? I've browsed a few jewelry makers sites, but their prices tend to be too high for a lot less bulk. (While I know quality should override qunatity, when I can order one pack of 1000 coins for a lump sum rather than fifty 50 ct, I have to go with what seems the better deal)

And for that matter, for those of us into the retro, vintage look with peoples, and various metal colored bits, where is a good place for them?

Thanks!
Mina

You may be able to haze up the silver finish with household chemicals. I washed an aluminum coin belt in the washer once, and the coins are no longer bright, but dull and whitish. One of these days, I'm going to disassemble it and repaint them with silver spray paint. Speaking of which, if you have new coins, that's always an option--pin them to a big sheet of cardboard, and dust the lot with pewter spray paint, dry, flip, and repeat. You can also get a solution called liver of sulfer through craft and jewelry supply that will give an antiqued finish to many metals.

As far as the weight of the coins, most costume-quality coins will be the tinky, thin ones. Saroyan used to carry a nice line of coins that were heavier, but they've discontinued them--you might still be able to find someone's unused stash or an old costume to cannibalize, though.

The usual advice is to buy a sack of junk/bulk coins through someone who vends to coin collectors and drill them yourself, if you want "real-weight" coins. There's a bit more discussion here http://www.bhuz.com/forum/belly-danc...ces-coins.html.

BTW, the concern about the coins cutting through is addressed by the way you attach them. Some people like to use split rings (they're like miniature key rings) to attach the coins to a chain base. (You could also use soldered jump rings, if you really wanted to do it up right.) Alternatively, you can use French wire to protect your beading thread (more expensive), or a very durable stringing material like DandyLine or a similar cut-resistant cord.

findings from cost less are at natures gems .com