Microscopic celebratory message in gold to mark the Coronation of King Charles III

A specially-designed nano engraving uses gold to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III.

Manufacturing specialists at Cranfield University have created miniature golden royal monogram symbols to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation. The engraving is so small that it can only be seen using a powerful microscope.

Gold microscopic letters form part of a commemorative piece to mark the King’s coronation. It depicts the official cyphers of King Charles III and Queen Camilla and lettering below reads, Westminster Abbey 6th May 2023.

The framed exhibit – created using a focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) - is being displayed alongside high-magnification images to commemorate the special occasion. The exhibit was created in the electron microscopy suite at Cranfield, using ion microscopes that are routinely used to examine evidence of micro defects within aerospace technology, such as engine components.

An additional feature is that the letters were made using recycled gold from the coating equipment used to prepare samples for imaging in the microscope. The FIB-SEM works best when samples are very conductive, so many require a thin layer of gold to prevent charging of the sample surface.

The team was led by Cranfield University’s Dr Diane Johnson, Senior Technical Officer - Materials Characterisation (SEM), with the project taking around two hours to manufacture. She says, ‘This project not only showcases our expertise in nanotechnology and microscopy, but also demonstrates a way in which we can use our equipment in a creative and unusual way.’