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Composition of 1974 aluminum cents with trace elements revealed

CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,710 ✭✭✭✭✭
The Mint had the 1974-D aluminum cent on display at the Anaheim ANA. A brochure they were giving out said that it was 96% aluminum. I asked the nice young lady at the Mint booth what the other 4% was. She said that she did not know, but that she would find out and get back to me.



Just got the following email which I am posting for posterity, in case the Forum's search function ever gets fixed:



"The remaining 4% was a mix of the following:



Manganese



Iron



Silicon



Copper



Zinc



Zirconium"



TD



Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.

Comments

  • drwstr123drwstr123 Posts: 7,049 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thank you for making the composition definitive.
  • TommyTypeTommyType Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Interesting....



    Maybe a metallurgist can 'splain to us what that composition contributes to the alloy???



    Or, maybe that's just one of the "standard" aluminum compositions, (with standard impurities), that is commercially available?
    Easily distracted Type Collector
  • element159element159 Posts: 544 ✭✭✭
    That is consistent with 6061 aluminum (which is a fairly strong alloy). But it is probably consistent with other Al alloys as well, without a quantitative amount for the other elements, it is hard to compare for sure.

  • WoodenJeffersonWoodenJefferson Posts: 6,491 ✭✭✭✭
    What element is TD ?
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    "Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
  • TommyTypeTommyType Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: WoodenJefferson

    What element is TD ?




    "Tom DeLorey"



    A tough element, not believed to be toxic. image
    Easily distracted Type Collector
  • TommyTypeTommyType Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: element159

    That is consistent with 6061 aluminum (which is a fairly strong alloy). But it is probably consistent with other Al alloys as well, without a quantitative amount for the other elements, it is hard to compare for sure.





    I did some searching too....



    Assuming the elements are listed by percentage, I found some reference that Manganese alloys are in the 3000 series, and

    "The addition of manganese to aluminum increases strength somewhat through solution strengthening and improves strain hardening while not appreciably reducing ductility or corrosion resistance."



    Link



    Kind of makes sense for coinage?? Maybe??
    Easily distracted Type Collector
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Yes...that alloy mixture is not uncommon in aluminum... it does vary with application though. Cheers, RickO
  • oih82w8oih82w8 Posts: 12,562 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You guys almost had me with the element "TD", but then I saw the quote marks ended before TD.



    I have not had my coffee yet..image
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