A sign having tactilely discernible braille characters formed of raised hemispherical elements. A sign plate having a planar front surface, planar back surface, and a predetermined thickness has a plurality of holes of predetermined diameter drilled therein or therethrough which are arranged in a pattern corresponding to a braille character. Elongate pin members having a shank portion and a hemispherically rounded head at one end are secured in respective holes so that the pin shank is secured along its length in the respective hole and the hemispherically rounded head protrudes a predetermined height above the sign plate front surface to form a tactile raised hemispherical element of the braille characters. Alternatively pins having a hemispherically rounded end are secured in respective holes substantially along their length with the hemispherically rounded ends protruding a predetermined height above the front surface to form the raised hemispherical elements. In a preferred embodiment, the shank or pin diameter is greater than the hole diameter and is pressed axially into the hole to be frictionally engaged therein. The holes are drilled by a drilling machine controlled by a central processing unit whereby alphanumeric characters typed on a keyboard are translated into corresponding points of braille characters and the drill bit is positioned at each the points and lowered to drill the holes through the sign plate.