of achieving the design quality sought out by the pair .
“ We had been talking for a while about a new laser engraving machine that they were about to start testing for the penny machine business ,” Norman said .
After some discussion , Norman was given the opportunity to have the Rose design be the guinea pig for the laser technology . The end result , according to Norman , was everything they had been hoping for .
“ Not only was Brian and his team able to get this machine dialed in to cut crisp lines and high relief detail , we got them to put texture in the leaves of the petals of the rose ,” he said , “ By tuning the lasers pattern and intensity , you can take our Rose and feel the gradient that represents the petals and feel how it changes as you go from one side to the other .”
In October 2021 , the penny press machine loaded with the Rose design was placed in the Imagination Emporium , a toy store owned by Anna Lee , who had been aiding in the production of the Rose design from day one , according to Norman .
“ People get excited when they see it ,” Lee said about the machine at her store , “ It ’ s got that old-fashioned appeal to it .”
With both penny presses placed , Norman said that this isn ’ t the end of his mission , having purchased three additional crank-powered penny machines from a trip to Covington .
However , Norman has turned his sights to what elongated quarters have to offer , converting the purchased machines to handle the large elongated coin size .
With laser machine technology and graphic expertise at his side , Norman is currently working on various designs that could be fully realized with the extra size of the quarter .
“ Pressing quarters gives us a lot more room to put bigger , more detailed images ,” Norman said , “ We ’ re going to toe close to what you could draw with a pencil .”
Among the designs being polished for distribution in the press machines , Norman said that the public could expect the Pine Cone , the Peach , the Woodsman , the Owl , the Bird Dog and the Peach .
The Woodsman , a design illustrating a man riding a carriage alongside quail and a dog , is an homage to the plantations of Thomasville , according to Norman .
“ Our pennies are designed with our home town in mind ,” Norman said .
He added that Thomasville has a lot to draw on when it comes to designs .
“ We ’ ve got the draw , we ’ ve got the history ,” he said .
While he doesn ’ t have a place set for the crank-powered machines yet , Norman said that a collectors pamphlet will be produced , providing a map for penny presses in the Thomasville area .
“ I can ’ t think of better way to get people of all demographics to visit multiple places in our town all in one run ,” he said , “ That ’ s the kind of glue we want to help hold our town together and make it grow .
For Norman , the true value of penny presses and the collectable coins , are the memories they embody .
“ When you see that penny , it takes you back to that place ,” he said .
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