How the Dragon Coin Was Made

Most people only see the final product. But what makes something like this worth owning is the process behind it.

It starts in Adobe Illustrator. The dragon design was carefully created to be as charming as possible — approachable, detailed, and perfectly sized for a wood coin at 2 inches wide.

Once the design is ready, it moves into LightBurn. This is where everything gets dialed in — power, speed, and passes. It requires trial and error because every piece of wood and every design turns out differently.

After that, the coin is cut directly out of a solid plank of wood using the laser. This makes the edges very smooth and soft to hold — much softer than power tools could ever cut.

The coin is then sanded to smooth the surface and remove char marks from the cutting. This step makes sure the final burn comes out clean and consistent. Next comes the engraving — transforming a flat piece of wood into a charming three-dimensional design. Once complete, it's sanded again and sealed.

This little coin is made to sit on your desk, your shelf, or alongside your books to remind you to read them!