OT/ etching or printing onto metal plates, Need to make about 2 dozen plates Options

[iamchappy]

I need to make about 2 dozen metal plates that measure 1.5 x 2" for my 2010 Pheasant stamp print edition.

In past years i have had 100 of these created for me as medallions, struck and gold plated. The last time in 2005 i had this done it cost me around 4,000 only to sell 18 of them so i need an alternative to this to keep the last medallion print collectors happy.

I was thinking either etching onto metal or printing onto it, i would like a half tone B/W image but if a stencil is required i could create a line drawing as well.

Any of you out there have any experience in this that could share what you know...