The copper content of 20th century British predecimal Pennies, Halfpennies and Farthings varied from 95.5 to 97%.
When the use of silver in coins was discontinued after 1946, all British "silver" coins were made from a copper-nickel alloy consisting most commonly of 75% and 25% nickel.
All British predecimal "silver" coins from 1947 onwards are made from a copper-nickel alloy consisting of 75% copper and 25% nickel.
The weight, dimensions and metal content of predecimal British coins changed periodicially.The last mintings of the predecimal British coins weighed as follows -Farthing (bronze) - 2.852 gramsHalfpenny (bronze) - 5.658 gramsPenny (bronze) - 9.396 gramsThreepence (nickel-brass) - 6.8 gramsSixpence (cupro-nickel) - 2.83 gramsShilling (cupro-nickel) - 5.63 gramsFlorin (cupro-nickel) - 11.5 gramsHalfcrown (cupro-nickel) - 14.2 gramsCrown (cupro-nickel) - 28.2 grams
Zero. All British "silver" coins from 1947 onwards, were made from a copper-nickel alloy.
There were no British coins withdrawn in 1992. The large pre-1991 5 Pence coins were withdrawn from circulation and demonetised in 1991, along with the predecimal Shilling coins that they replaced at decimalisation. The large pre-1993 10 Pence coins were withdrawn from circulation and demonetised in 1993, along with the predecimal Florin coins that they replaced at decimalisation.
The British predecimal Halfpenny, Penny, Threepence and Sixpence did not have an equivalent coin in decimal currency.
If you refer to the scrap value of the copper, there is no copper in British "copper" coins these days.
The silver used to make predecimal British coins could have been mined anywhere in the then British Empire. A lot of silver was also acquired from raids on Spanish ships.
The British 1 Penny issued from 1971 to 1992 has a 97% copper content. The British 1 Penny issued from 1992 to present, is made from copper plated steel. The coins are electroplated and the copper coating is minimal at about 25 microns (or 0.025 mm).
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.
No. The window of opportunity for an exchange of British predecimal coins closed many years ago.
1919 and 1920 were the two years when the British silver coinage was debased from 0.9250 to 0.5000 silver. Which year the change was made depends on the denomination of the coin. Prior to 1919/1920, all British "silver" coins had a 92.5% silver content. From 1919/1920 to 1946, all British "silver" coins had a 50% silver content. From 1947 to present, all circulating British "silver" coins had a 0% silver content.
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.