In what year did they start adding alloys in coin?

BDP

When was the last year for the all silver coin?

Thanks

tjkillian

An alloy is a mixture of metals. The first regular issue silver coin that was alloyed was the 1792 Silver Disme. The U.S. Mint continues to use silver alloy in coins today in special silver proof sets. The alloy has always been with copper as it makes the silver much stronger and wear longer.

The government started making clad coins with no silver in them in 1965 with the dime and quarter. In 1970 they removed all silver from circulating U.S. coins.

Tom

MacCoin

I heard gold is as soft as lead without the silver alloy

jonesy

<< <i>I heard gold is as soft as lead without the silver alloy >>


I didn't know it was that soft. I learned something today!!

Coulport

You can cut pure gold with a knife but it is not as soft as lead. You can scratch off lead with your fingernail but you can't do that on gold.

Mohs' hardness scale:
Lead - 1.5
Gold - 2.5 to 3

Also gold is generally alloyed with copper to give it hardness.
Other metals are used in combination with copper when a different color is desired.

cladking

Very early coins were often made of a natural alloy called electrum. This was largely
the result of the ancients inability to separate the gold and silver. These were generally
mostly gold but the small amount of silver in them causes a very whitish color. Alloys
were added to coinage materials at very early dates but for a more comprehensive answer
you might try posing the question on the World and Ancient Coins Forum.

coppercoins

From what I gather BDP is asking a very simple question...

When did the Mint change from 90% silver coinage for dimes, quarters, and halves?

The answer: 1964 was the last year. In 1965 they went to clad dimes and quarters and a 40% silver clad half dollar. The 40% silver clad composition remained in the half dollar until 1971 when it was replaced with the same clad as the dime and quarter.

Aethelred

The correct answer would be about 600 BC.

BDP

what about the nickle?

merz2

BDP
To my knowledge the nickel hasn't changed.It didn't have Silver in it accept for the war years 1942-1945.

ddink

BDP: Also, the nickel only has a fairly small percentage of nickel in the alloy. Pure nickel planchets were so hard they would actually break steel dies.

mdwoods

Our nickels are 25% Nickel 75% Copper. The only coin that still maintains it's original size, weight and alloy since it was first coined is our nickel 5 cent piece.

Coulport

Our first nickel was a 3¢ piece.

DominusDeus

Gold is also the most mallable metal. 1 Oz (troy ounce i assume) can be drawn to a length of 43 miles.

mrcommem

According to Breen our first nickels were Flying Eagle cents. They were called "nicks" or "nickels" ten years before five or three cent nickel pieces were even minted. The cents were made of 12% nickel and 88% copper and weighed 72 grains.




1858 Flying Eagle Cent PCGS MS64

ddink

<< <i>1 Oz (troy ounce i assume) can be drawn to a length of 43 miles. >>



Drawing into a wire is ductility. Malleability is the ability to be hammered into thin sheets. Gold is both the most malleable and most ductile metal.

Deadhorse

Technically speaking. The mint issues essentially pure silver coins every year, Silver Eagles which are far more pure than any previous issues at .9993 fine silver.

Conder101

<< <i>Our nickels are 25% Nickel 75% Copper. The only coin that still maintains it's original size, weight and alloy since it was first coined is our nickel 5 cent piece. >>


Almost. The shield nickel was slightly thicker and .5 mm smaller in diameter than all of the other nickel five cent piece designs.