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Many years ago coins contained their value in metal. That is, a 1 dollar, 1 franc, 1 ruble, etc. coin contained one dollar, franc, or ruble's worth of metal. Copper is an abundant and readily-worked metal so it was used for low-value coins. Medium-value coins were made of silver, usually with a bit of copper mixed in to make the coins more wear-resistant. Finally, high-value coins were made of gold. The relative values of each metal allowed coins to be made in convenient sizes while containing their worth of each metal.
For many reasons - economic growth that outstripped metal supplies, inflation, political interference, and other things - it became more and more difficult to use precious metals in coins. In many countries, including the US, the metal in coins became worth more than the coins themselves which led to people melting coins. For example at one point in the 1960s it was possible to melt $10 worth of US quarters and sell the metal for $300 to $400.
Starting in the 1920s and extending into the 1970s most countries stopped minting coins out of precious metals. Copper remained inexpensive so low-value coins continued to be made from that metal, while nickel replaced silver in medium-value coins. Nickel has characteristics that make it useful for coins: it's abundant, has a color that resembles silver, and is very wear-resistant.
Other metals such as, brass, zinc, and steel have also come into common use in coins. Many countries now issue brass coins because like nickel it holds up well in circulation and its golden color is easily distinguished from nickel and copper coins. Steel and zinc have come into use as a replacement for copper in very low-value coins because even copper is now too expensive for small coins. Both metals react to oxygen, however, so steel and zinc coins are normally plated or coated with another metal to prevent oxidation.
What else can I help you with?
Was us coins ever made out of nickel and silver metal?
U.S. coins used to be made with silver, typically a blend of 90% silver with 10% copper. Then modern dimes, quarters, and half dollars are nickel-coated copper. Nickels are made with 25% nickel and 75% copper. There aren't any coins made of a silver/nickel blend.
What are coins made out of in 1900?
Copper, Nickel, Silver and Gold
Why do older coins weigh more than younger coins?
Older coins were made of different metals, such as silver or copper. Coins that used to be silver are now nickel or nickel-coated copper, and coins that were copper are now copper-coated steel or zinc.
Are Iraq coins silver?
The Iraqi coins made for general use since 1960 are made of nickel, copper-nickel, stainless steel, copper plated steel and nickel plated steel.
Is a 1961 British Halfcrown made from silver?
Until 1919, the Halfcrown coin was made from 92.5% silver. From 1920 to 1946, the Halfcrown coin was made from 50% silver. From 1947 to their last minting in 1970, the Halfcrown coin was made from a copper and nickel alloy.
What are coins made from in UK?
The 'copper' (1p & 2p coins) are made from 97% copper - and 3& trace elements. The 'silver' coins are made from nickel-plated sheet steel.
Do coins have copper in them?
British coins of copper appearance, the 1 and 2 Pence coins, are made from copper plated steel. British coins of silver appearance, the cupro-nickel 5, 10 and 50 Pence coins, are made from 75% copper and 25% nickel. British 20 Pence coins, are made from 84% copper and 16% nickel.
Are ten pence coins real silver?
No. They would be worth far more than 10 pence if they were made from Silver. The British 10 Pence coins are made from 75% copper and 25% nickel. No circulating British coin has any silver content.
Is a 1968 half dollar made of pure silver?
No circulating U.S. coins were ever made of pure silver. It's too soft. Up to 1964 U.S. silver coins had 10% copper in them for hardness. 1965 to 1969 halves were made of 40% silver and 60% copper, while dimes and quarters from 1965 onward were and still are made of copper-nickel. Halves were converted to copper-nickel in 1971.
What is difference between nickel silver and sterling silver?
Nickel silver is an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc, and it was used to make 'silver' coins that were previously made in silver or 50% silver. British coins were silver up to 1921 and 50% silver until 1946, and then they were made of nickel silver. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver.
What is the silver content of New Zealand pre decimal coins?
All New Zealand silver coins from 1933 to 1946 had a silver content of 50%. From 1947 onwards, all New Zealand "silver" coins were made from a copper-nickel alloy.
How much is your 1971 pure silver dollar worth?
American circulation coins were never made of pure silver. They contained at least 10% copper for hardness. 1971 dollar coins for circulation contained NO silver - they were made of copper and nickel. Collectors' coins were struck in 40% silver.
