The labour of love engravings were carried out by artist Shaun Hughes, 53, from Essex who began recording his work to inspire others who want to take up the trade.

Other amazing engravings include a portrait of the musician Prince on a US quarter, Abraham Lincoln sitting on a toilet on a US penny and Roman centurion carved onto a 1,000-year-old Constantine Roman coin.

Shaun took up the practice after running a jewellery repair shop for 15 years.

He got started with the help of a small worldwide community of engravers promote by The Original Hobo Nickel Society and The Love Token Society.

'Anyone who wants to learn the art of hand engraving can start on a coin and have something of interest and value from the very first try,' he said.

'Modern engraving uses microscopes and power assisted engravers. It's like a tiny jack hammer that you have to steer.'I have mostly used a GRS Gravermach and a Nikkon SMZ800 Microscope.

'I make most of my other tools as I'm a bit of a mad inventor.'

'When I engrave it's a bit like a meditation. I forget I'm cold or thirsty until I stop engraving. I don't take many commissions, so even though I can engrave for up to 12 hours some days it doesn't seem like work.'

To read the complete article, see:
Now that's a pretty penny! Engraver creates incredible artworks from coins showing Prince and Abraham Lincoln on the toilet(www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3908026/Now-s-pretty-penny-Engraver-creates-incredible-artworks-coins-showing-Prince-Abraham-Lincoln-toilet.html)