A high temperature pressing roll has a cast or formed steel roll which is coated with a molybdenum-containing alloy. The preferred alloy has 14 to 16 percent molybdenum, 28 to 30 percent nickel, 30 to 34 percent chromium, 1.2 to 1.8 percent silicon, 4 to 4.5 percent boron, a maximum of 0.2 percent carbon and copper between 3 and 3.8 percent with the balance being iron. The roll is first coated with a bonding coating consisting of nickel and chromium. This bonding layer is then flame sprayed or plasma sprayed with a molybdenum alloy. The coating once applied is ground to a 30 RA or smoother surface. The molybdenum alloy is sprayed on to achieve a surface depth of approximately forty thousandths of an inch.