Hmmm. Something caught my eye in that specification that was a bit strange. They mentioned that the penny will be made from an alloy of 95% copper and 5% zinc. They never mentioned that the inner core of the penny is pure zinc, and the outer layering is copper. According to that specification, the entire penny should be made from a mixture of 95% copper and 5% zinc. (As an alloy is an intimate mixture of two metals. Not two metals just sitting next to each other, or bonded to each other through chemical/heat manners). So is the mint making the pennies incorrectly, or is the specification just worded absolutely wrong?
I collect the elements on the periodic table, and some coins. I have a complete Roosevelt set, and am putting together a set of coins from 1880.
<< <i>I read it and didn't see any mention that coins should be ugly, have low relief, and overall just suck... so it IS legal to make nice coins... >>
This is the closest dealing with designs;
(D) Standards. - Because it is important that the Nation's coinage and currency bear dignified designs of which the citizens of the United States can be proud, the Secretary shall not select any frivolous or inappropriate design for any quarter dollar minted under this subsection.
<< <i> Hmmm. Something caught my eye in that specification that was a bit strange. They mentioned that the penny will be made from an alloy of 95% copper and 5% zinc. They never mentioned that the inner core of the penny is pure zinc, and the outer layering is copper. According to that specification, the entire penny should be made from a mixture of 95% copper and 5% zinc. (As an alloy is an intimate mixture of two metals. >>
This section allows the Sec of the Treasury to alter the cent composition
(c) The Secretary may prescribe the weight and the composition of copper and zinc in the alloy of the one-cent coin that the Secretary decides are appropriate when the Secretary decides that a different weight and alloy of copper and zinc are necessary to ensure an adequate supply of one-cent coins to meet the needs of the United States.
And the center of the cent is not pure zinc, it is 99.2% zinc and .8% copper. The small amont of copper in the core allows the plating to bond to the core better.
<< <i> Hmmm. Something caught my eye in that specification that was a bit strange. They mentioned that the penny will be made from an alloy of 95% copper and 5% zinc. They never mentioned that the inner core of the penny is pure zinc, and the outer layering is copper. According to that specification, the entire penny should be made from a mixture of 95% copper and 5% zinc. (As an alloy is an intimate mixture of two metals. >>
This section allows the Sec of the Treasury to alter the cent composition
(c) The Secretary may prescribe the weight and the composition of copper and zinc in the alloy of the one-cent coin that the Secretary decides are appropriate when the Secretary decides that a different weight and alloy of copper and zinc are necessary to ensure an adequate supply of one-cent coins to meet the needs of the United States.
And the center of the cent is not pure zinc, it is 99.2% zinc and .8% copper. The small amont of copper in the core allows the plating to bond to the core better. >>
Jdurg- My thoughts also. After reading paragraph c "To ensure adequate supply" made me think abit. I thought they changed the composition because the price of copper had made the penny worth more than a penny in copper melt value.
<< <i>I didn't get through the entire text, but I didn't see where there was a weight spec for the regularsdollar coin (size was specified, but not weight). >>
That is probably covered here: (b) The half dollar, quarter dollar, and dime coins are clad coins with 3 layers of metal. The 2 identical outer layers are an alloy of 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel. The inner layer is copper. The outer layers are metallurgically bonded to the inner layer and weigh at least 30 percent of the weight of the coin. The dollar coin shall be golden in color, have a distinctive edge, have tactile and visual features that make the denomination of the coin readily discernible, be minted and fabricated in the United States, and have similar metallic, anti-counterfeiting properties as United States coinage in circulation on the date of enactment of the United States $1 Coin Act of 1997.
Since Anthony dollars were technically in circulation when the $1 coin act of 1997 was passed the golden dollar wuld have to match the specifications of the Anthony.
While at first glance it looks like it would be hard to change the designs of the gold coins, this section:
(4)(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary of the Treasury may change the diameter, weight, or design of any coin minted under this subsection or the fineness of the gold in the alloy of any such coin if the Secretary determines that the specific diameter, weight, design, or fineness of gold which differs from that otherwise required by law is appropriate for such coin.
Would seem to imply that the Sec of the Treasury can change the design at any time as long as he thinks the design is "appropriate" for the coin.
Still, with how specific they are with the clad coinage, you'd think that they'd be just as specific when talking about the penny. The penny is technically a bimetallic coin and not a solid alloy like the dollar and nickel coins are.
I collect the elements on the periodic table, and some coins. I have a complete Roosevelt set, and am putting together a set of coins from 1880.
cladking
Posts: 28,350 ✭✭✭✭✭
Comments
<< <i>I read it and didn't see any mention that coins should be ugly, have low relief, and overall just suck... so it IS legal to make nice coins...
This is the closest dealing with designs;
(D) Standards. - Because it is important that the Nation's
coinage and currency bear dignified designs of which the
citizens of the United States can be proud, the Secretary shall
not select any frivolous or inappropriate design for any
quarter dollar minted under this subsection.
Obviously this can involve wide interpretation.
<< <i>so it IS legal to make nice coins... >>
Great question.
guys to make our coins---they're so much prettier!!!
<< <i> Hmmm. Something caught my eye in that specification that was a bit strange. They mentioned that the penny will be made from an alloy of 95% copper and 5% zinc. They never mentioned that the inner core of the penny is pure zinc, and the outer layering is copper. According to that specification, the entire penny should be made from a mixture of 95% copper and 5% zinc. (As an alloy is an intimate mixture of two metals. >>
This section allows the Sec of the Treasury to alter the cent composition
(c) The Secretary may prescribe the weight and the composition of
copper and zinc in the alloy of the one-cent coin that the
Secretary decides are appropriate when the Secretary decides that a
different weight and alloy of copper and zinc are necessary to
ensure an adequate supply of one-cent coins to meet the needs of
the United States.
And the center of the cent is not pure zinc, it is 99.2% zinc and .8% copper. The small amont of copper in the core allows the plating to bond to the core better.
<< <i>
<< <i> Hmmm. Something caught my eye in that specification that was a bit strange. They mentioned that the penny will be made from an alloy of 95% copper and 5% zinc. They never mentioned that the inner core of the penny is pure zinc, and the outer layering is copper. According to that specification, the entire penny should be made from a mixture of 95% copper and 5% zinc. (As an alloy is an intimate mixture of two metals. >>
This section allows the Sec of the Treasury to alter the cent composition
(c) The Secretary may prescribe the weight and the composition of
copper and zinc in the alloy of the one-cent coin that the
Secretary decides are appropriate when the Secretary decides that a
different weight and alloy of copper and zinc are necessary to
ensure an adequate supply of one-cent coins to meet the needs of
the United States.
And the center of the cent is not pure zinc, it is 99.2% zinc and .8% copper. The small amont of copper in the core allows the plating to bond to the core better. >>
Jdurg- My thoughts also. After reading paragraph c "To ensure adequate supply" made me think abit. I thought they changed the composition because the price of copper had made the penny worth more than a penny in copper melt value.
I am amazed with the level of control there appears to be over the reverse design on the gold Eagles, hard to change those designs.
I didn't get through the entire text, but I didn't see where there was a weight spec for the regularsdollar coin (size was specified, but not weight).
I don't know what they could do with such an oversight, but it'd be cool to make them different just cuz there is that latitude left in the specs.
<< <i>I didn't get through the entire text, but I didn't see where there was a weight spec for the regularsdollar coin (size was specified, but not weight). >>
That is probably covered here:
(b) The half dollar, quarter dollar, and dime coins are clad
coins with 3 layers of metal. The 2 identical outer layers are an
alloy of 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel. The inner layer
is copper. The outer layers are metallurgically bonded to the
inner layer and weigh at least 30 percent of the weight of the
coin. The dollar coin shall be golden in color, have a distinctive
edge, have tactile and visual features that make the denomination
of the coin readily discernible, be minted and fabricated in the
United States, and have similar metallic, anti-counterfeiting
properties as United States coinage in circulation on the date of
enactment of the United States $1 Coin Act of 1997.
Since Anthony dollars were technically in circulation when the $1 coin act of 1997 was passed the golden dollar wuld have to match the specifications of the Anthony.
While at first glance it looks like it would be hard to change the designs of the gold coins, this section:
(4)(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to
subparagraph (B), the Secretary of the Treasury may change the
diameter, weight, or design of any coin minted under this
subsection or the fineness of the gold in the alloy of any such
coin if the Secretary determines that the specific diameter,
weight, design, or fineness of gold which differs from that
otherwise required by law is appropriate for such coin.
Would seem to imply that the Sec of the Treasury can change the design at any time as long as he thinks the design is "appropriate" for the coin.