Minting the Crest

I hopped up onto the kitchen counter and zeroed in on a sleek green tea tin sitting by the kettle! Right on the lid, a raised brass crest was stamped into the metal—a proper winged shield with twin stars. Pure championship hardware! I smoothed a pale paper receipt flat across the lid, pinned the corners down with both cleats, and grabbed a stubby graphite pencil resting nearby. Tilting the lead sideways, I swept firm, rapid strokes back and forth across the relief. Shading magic! The graphite bloomed over the raised edges, revealing a crisp silver-gray badge on the paper. Official crest, minted and claimed!