About Dr. Ari Roark Expertise Metalsmithing, Goldsmithing,Jewelry Making, Gemology,Metallurgy,Art Jewelry,Jewelry Appraising,Metal Mill Work,Jewelry Education,Group Projects Adaptable to Special Populations as well as ordinary groups,Ethnobotany,Metal Clays, International Jewellery Law,Trade Law,Rock hounding,Industrial Health and Safety Assessment and Education as it pertains to Jewelry Studios (of all sizes and manufacturing concerns relative to the Trade, Jewellery Trade Organisations,Objective US Jewelry School critical Analysis,Applied Anthropology,goldssmithing,lapidary,metals,refining
Experience More than 35 years experience in the Jewelry Industry, Juris doctorates, PhD's in Anthropology, Cultural History, Cultural Geography, Mining Locations Assessments, Industrial Health and Safety Inspector to the Jewelry Industry, Montessori Educator, Occupational Therapy, Natural Historian, Scholar of Jewelry Evolution, PhD in Creativity ( the analysis of the divergent genres of thought on the process and impetus of the essence of creativity as a state of being expressed tangibly),Extensive Fieldwork with populations of Traditional craftsmen worldwide, former Peace Corps volunteer, Former VISTA volunteer, Etc.
Organizations too numerous to list
Publications prefer not to answer for reasons related to plagiarism
Education/Credentials PhD Anthropology( Applied(1), Cultural(2)Ethnobotany(1),PhD -Physics (Metallurgy 1)( Wave and Particle Dynamics 1),,JD,MD,MFA-Metals/Jewelry,,MFA-Printmaking, MFA-Sculpture, Extensive undergraduate degrees, extensive post doctoral work, Montessori Educator Certification (Primary and Secondary)..many, many Degrees, Grants, and Awards in my past as an Academic turned Jeweler, OSHA Certifications
Awards and Honors too numerous to list including 3 Honorary Doctorates, Two Humanitarian Related Awards, and Service on Many Boards of Directors
Question We are trying to do a custom coin for Cerro Gordo Mines. We have silver but the lead content prohibits use without refining and we are doing an annual coin in silver for the visitors to the mine to purchase. Can we get a die to use for the coin or is there someone (jeweler?) on west coast that we can work with? Thanks for your time.
Answer Hello Candace,
Yes getting a mould made is cheaper than having your raw materials cast for you if you can melt and pour yourselves.I am unsure if you are making the coins yourselves out of your own raw silver, or if you are wanting to have the silver refined then made into coins.
I don't quite understand what it is you want to accomplish. I will be happy to work with you on getting a die made or a mould if that's what you want! I have many colleagues on the West Coast that do that type of casting work and others that do die making and others that refine only for a living.I do all the above processes in house for mid-size orders down to individual coins for gifts, etc. so I feel certain I could handle or set you up with a company once I have a bit more information.
Once I figure out if you have the silver, and why you think it is of a high lead content I can direct you further how to go about getting the coins produced. If you are an artist or have one on staff, or have graphic design capabilities that will make the process easier if you have a design in mind.
If you want me to handle the entire thing I would be willing to do that too as I do this type of work myself, or I can recommend someone based on where you are- so contact me off this forum as the information is rather sensitive and you would not want to alert those spammy companies that search these forums for potential business and have them infiltrate your email. You may contact me at vieuxcarrejewelres@gmail.com and I'll look for that over the next few days.
Also do let me know exactly where you are, what volume of coinage you want produced and whether you think you can melt and pour, or if you need the material you have ( if any ) refined first then cast into coins.Alternatively if you want your material refined then returned, then a die or mold made that you can strike as many replicas as you care to and what type of press you have at your disposal for striking or casting the coinage. I can probably give you a turn around time of three weeks from first email to delivery as the refining may add an extra week if you need lead removed as many refiners won't knowingly take on ores that contain lead without an additional fee.
Best Regards,Ari
