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The choice of metals for minting coins is determined by a number of factors. Among the most important are:

  • Cost
  • Ease of striking
  • Appearance
  • Wear resistance

In the past, coins had to contain approximately their face value in metal. That is, a cent contained about 1 cent worth of metal, a half-dollar contained about 50 cents, etc. For that reason copper (an inexpensive metal) was used for low-denomination coins, while silver (a moderately valuable metal) was used for mid-value coins, and gold (an expensive metal) was used for high-value coins.

The three metals are relatively soft which made them easy to strike, although gold and silver are so soft that they usually had to be alloyed with a small amount of another metal to stand up to circulation wear. Finally, their obvious color differences made it easy to distinguish one coin from another even if they were similar in size.

It took a while for nickel to come into use. It's an ideal metal for coinage because in addition to being inexpensive it's hard and thus very wear-resistant. However it's so hard that it broke early coin presses. Hardened-steel dies were developed in the mid-19th century, allowing nickel to be used for regular circulating coinage. In the US, new denominations such as 3 and 5 cent coins were struck in a copper-nickel alloy and gained quick acceptance by the public.

During the 20th century gold and silver prices were deregulated due to increasing demand. That made the metals too expensive and the price too volatile to use in coins because among other things they became worth more as scrap metal than their face value. Most countries stopped making gold coins early in that century, and had to give up the use of silver by the 1960s. Nickel proved to be an excellent substitute because its color is only slightly darker than silver, allowing the familiar color differences to be maintained.

By the late 20th century many countries added new, higher-denomination coins to replace their wasteful low-value paper money. These coins are often made of a gold-colored brass alloy, echoing the old color relationships established centuries before.

Further rises in the cost of copper and nickel have now made even these metals too expensive for low-denomination coins so other metals such as zinc, steel, and aluminum are also being used.

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What metal is used to make nickle coins?

US nickels are made of 75% copper and 25% nickel, and have been since they were introduced in 1866. The only ones containing silver are dated 1942-1945.


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.


Are copper coins pure copper?

Pure copper has not been used to make British coins for about 150 years. From 1860, British "copper" coins were made from bronze which consisted mostly of copper varying from 95 to 97% copper. From 1992, British "copper" coins were made from copper plated steel. Ironically, copper is used to make modern "silver" coins (cupro-nickel) consisting usually of 75% copper and 25% nickel.


Why are silver coins not made from silver?

Because silver is far too expensive. Coins used to contain silver until about 1920 in the UK, 1965 in the U.S., and 1968 in Canada. Since then they are made from a mixture of copper and nickel, so they really aren't called "silver" coins anymore.


Are US quarters and dimes made out of pure silver?

Circulating coins were never made out of pure silver. It's too soft and would wear out very quickly. Up till 1964 US dimes, quarters, and half dollars were made from an alloy of 90% silver with 10% copper added to make the metal hard enough to resist wear. Since then the coins have been struck on so-called "sandwich" blanks consisting of a pure copper core clad on each side with an alloy of 75% copper and 25% nickel. Also, production of 90% silver dimes, quarters, and half dollars resumed in 1992 but these coins are sold only to collectors and at prices reflecting their silver content.

Related Questions

Is an alloy silver copper nickel or brass?

The metals silver, copper and nickel are elements. It is brass that is an alloy, and copper and zinc are what make it up.


What metal is used to make nickle coins?

US nickels are made of 75% copper and 25% nickel, and have been since they were introduced in 1866. The only ones containing silver are dated 1942-1945.


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 added to make coins minted coins?

ALL coins are "minted" coins because they're made at a mint.They are never pure silver or gold. US silver coins used to be 90% silver with some 10% copper added to make them harder so they wouldn't wear out as quickly.Now coins like quarters or dimes are clad. That means they are like a sandwich. They have a layer of copper and nickel on the top and bottom, and copper in the middle. If you look at the side of a quarter, you can see the copper.


Are copper coins pure copper?

Pure copper has not been used to make British coins for about 150 years. From 1860, British "copper" coins were made from bronze which consisted mostly of copper varying from 95 to 97% copper. From 1992, British "copper" coins were made from copper plated steel. Ironically, copper is used to make modern "silver" coins (cupro-nickel) consisting usually of 75% copper and 25% nickel.


Why are silver coins not made from silver?

Because silver is far too expensive. Coins used to contain silver until about 1920 in the UK, 1965 in the U.S., and 1968 in Canada. Since then they are made from a mixture of copper and nickel, so they really aren't called "silver" coins anymore.


What are the coinage elements?

The coinage elements are the metals that are used to make coins. They are the three metals from Group 11 of the periodic table - copper, silver and gold.


Why copper or silver used in coins?

Pure copper, silver and gold has not been used to make general circulation coins for a long time, but for many years, the value of a coin was determined by the metal it was made from and its weight. British copper coins changed to bronze, which included a large percentage of copper, in 1860. British silver coins were gradually debased from 1919/1920 and changed to a copper nickel alloy from 1947. Copper was a relatively cheap and durable metal to make coins from once, but became much too expensive, even as part of a bronze alloy. In the early 1990's, all British bronze coins were subsequently made from copper plated steel. Silver was used to make coins of a higher value and the value of the coin was reflected in the diameter and weight of the coin, but silver also became too expensive.


What is the value of a silver shoehorn made out of nickel silver?

It isn't silver. Nickel "silver" refers to an alloy of copper with nickel and zinc to make it look like silver but it really contains no silver at all.


What is the metal used to make the Republic Of Liberia Africa 1996 50 Dollar Silver Coin?

The only silver-colored coins minted by Liberia in 1996 were composed of Copper-Nickel (there were also two gold coins produced in that denomination in that year).


What are the top five minerals that are best to make a coin?

Mineral are not used to make coins. Metals are not minerals. Metals used for coinage include copper, nickel, silver, gold, zinc and platinum.


What is the value of sacagawea silver 1979 dollar coins?

1979 would make it a Susan B. Anthony dollar, still worth face value.