The first batch of coins has just been completed in the Ministry of Magic’s new minting process. This follows a daring feat last week to move the meteor from its crater in the forest near Hogsmeade to the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry. The minting process takes advantage of the meteor’s unique ability to imprint a distinct energy pattern on anything within its range of influence – a property that was discovered by metal charmer Alice Hawkins earlier this year.
Moving the meteor hundreds of miles from Hogsmeade to the Ministry in London proved to be a difficult and dangerous task carried out by a team of both independent metal charmers as well as the Ministry Departments of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, Magical Law Enforcement, and Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. The Ministry placed Alice Hawkins in charge of moving the meteor, and the Prophet was able to speak to her about the effort.
“A lot of work was put into making sure the whole process was safe for everyone as well as hidden from muggles, so it took just over a month to build the safety devices and get everything ready to move. We chose a hot air balloon towed by thestrals to actually move [the meteor] because it didn’t need magic and could take off vertically. Plus, muggles wouldn’t think a hot air balloon was anything unusual if they saw it.”
Alice went on to state that the meteor causes magic to behave strangely in its presence. “There was a slight incident during flight where one of the straps holding the meteor came loose but we were able to repair it mid-flight. The team should be commended for their bravery – Elliott Reid, Eric Hyland, Fawnita Fergusson, Theo Bennett, Reika Minase, Michi Nishi, Noma Nyx, Killian Koslarevic, and Dominik Katzen all acted at a moment’s notice and prevented disaster.”
The flight began in the twilight hours of the evening and lasted around 6 hours total, with each team member dissilusionment charmed to hide themselves from sight, making the flight all the more treacherous.
While coins are finally being produced, we may not see the economy back to normal for some time. One batch of coins takes roughly a week to produce, so it could be a few more weeks before the average wixen has them in their pockets. Despite this, market prices have improved slightly on the positive news that galleons, sickles, and knuts will once again be flowing.
