West Fork, Arkansas November 2022 – a small, family-run coining operation located in Arkansas, USA has developed a following of fans and admirers around the world and is offering unique collectible gifts this holiday season. Specializing in quality, licensed fantasy coinage, Shire Post Mint (shirepost.com) has become known for their attention to detail and high level of craftsmanship, all while still being, in their own words, “super nerdy!” Their work caught the eye of Game of Thrones author, George R.R. Martin, who was interested in having coins made from his series of fantasy novels, A Song of Ice and Fire. Since then, Shire Post Mint has crafted coins from officially licensed properties including JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings™, Jim Henson’s Labyrinth™, Neil Gaiman’s American Gods™, Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn©, Conan© the Barbarian, Patrick Rothfuss’s The Kingkiller Chronicle™ as well as a variety of original fantasy coins, moon coins, jewelry, wax seals and more.
When Tom Maringer bought his first antique coin press in 2001, he had no idea what that purchase would lead to. Since his childhood, Maringer has had a passion for coin collecting and his years of knife-making gave him metalworking knowledge that he used to start making coins. One of the elements that makes Shire Post Mint unique is that they use original techniques of hand-engraving steel dies and pressing one coin at a time just as it was done in the 1800s and earlier.
Shire Post Mint is truly a family affair. Founder Tom Maringer still helps with manufacturing. His wife, Peggy, has been instrumental in providing structure for growing the business over the years and still helps with packaging. They have three children who work in the company: their son, Woody, manages the manufacturing side of Shire Post Mint. He is a self-taught engraver and is the “in-shop” coin engraver. Their daughter, Helen, is the CEO and manages the office side of Shire Post Mint and their other daughter, Cassie, lives near Portland, Oregon but helps with new coin designs and vending at conventions.
Designing a fantasy coin is no easy task. The coins that Shire Post Mint create are “in-world,” meaning that they could come out of the pockets of a commoner or king. When designing, they look at the world as a whole and try to answer some basic questions: Who or what would be depicted on the coin: a ruler, an idol, a god, a symbol, or simply text? What would the coins be used for: a monetary system, exchange of information, advertising for a new ruler? Tom Maringer says they often look back to Medieval and ancient world coinage to research art and engraving styles as well as the information often included on a coin. “Engraver Greg Franck-Weiby used the same chisel-engraving technique for our Leif Ericsson Vinland coin as the Vikings used when making coins in the 9th and 10th centuries,” relates Maringer.
“The whole coining process is quite elaborate,” says Shire Post Mint CEO Helen Maringer. “We hand engrave our steel dies, harden those, mount them in antique coin presses, and strike the designs into solid metals. We engrave, strike, finish, package, and ship our coins in our West Fork, Arkansas workshop to have full control over the process.”
The future of Shire Post Mint looks as bright as some of their polished coins. They just released their updated website and will have an new collectible coin from A Song of Ice and Fire featuring Viserys I Targaryen. And not to miss, if you happen to find yourself in West Fork, Arkansas, you can visit Shire Post Mint’s retail store and mint complete with a 15-foot dragon sculpture and Mini-Museum. The store features their coins and a selection of local Arkansas-made gifts.