Method for producing bi-metal object and product thereof

A method of making a bi-metal object having a base and at least one area raised in relief on said base, said relief being formed of a first metal and said base being formed of a second metal with a sharp border between the two metals, the steps comprising:

• a. providing a first die cavity which is the negative of the relief to be formed;
• b. filling said first die cavity with a powder of said first metal;
• c. compacting said first metal powder in said first die cavity to form a cohesive relief compact and removing any excess metal from the edges of said compact;
• d. providing a phantom die area which is the negative of said base and having a second die cavity identical to said first die cavity, said second die cavity being positioned at the bottom of said phantom die area, and said relief compact being seated within said second die cavity;
• e. filling the remainder of said second die cavity above said relief compact and partially filling said phantom die area with a powder of said second metal;
• f. compacting said second metal powder to form a composite with said relief compact;
• g. sintering said composite at a temperature and for a time sufficient to produce a durable bi-metal object, but insufficient to produce any significant dimensional change in said composite;
• and
• h. striking the final design of said base in a coining press, the bottom die of said press having a coining die cavity identical in configuration and position to said second die cavity.