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Why did the Aluminum cent fail?
coinnut86
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I don't recall the story, but I was just wondering why it was never minted for circulation.
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"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
I look at it the other way - the experiment was a success in ruling out Al as a suitable metal for coinage.
SIR: - I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the Mint and its Branches, for the fiscal year, ending June 30th, 1863.
<H2 align=center>COPPER COINAGE.</H2>
The coinage and issue of the nickel cent during the year has been very large -- almost unprecedented. The demand still continues, and every effort has been made to supply it. This coin has been distributed to every part of the Country, and orders for large amounts are daily received. The profits pay all expenses of the coinage and distribution of the cent.
A great benefit to the country was effected by the Act of 1857, reducing the size of the cent. It is to be regretted, that the idea still prevailed that it was necessary to put into the coin, if not an equivalent, at least a large proportion of real value. To this end, and for other reasons, an alloying metal was sought which should command a comparatively high price in the market, without being properly a <I>precious metal</I>. Nickel, possessing the requisite value and suitable qualities, was selected. It was then worth about two dollars per pound; though it has since been much lower in price. Our cent was, by decreasing the size, reduced in weight from 168 to 72 grains; the former simply copper; the latter an alloy of 88 per cent. copper, with 12 per cent. Nickel; making a coin of convenient size and neat appearance; and containing a half cent's worth of metal, more or less according to market fluctuations. The change was well intended, but the experience of other countries, and indeed of our own, has taught us, that it was an unnecessary liberality; and that all the Nickel we have thus used, has been so much money wasted. In France, they had, formerly a copper "<I>sous</I>," or five centimes -- about the same as our cent in legal value -- weighing 154 grains Troy: but the five centimes of the present day weighs only half as much. This latter is a mixture called <I>bronze</I>, and is composed of 95 per cent. copper, the remainder being tin and zinc, which adds nothing to the cost, but gives character and prestige to the coin. The mixture is less oxidable and more cleanly than copper. Now, this coin of half weight, passes as readily, and is, in fact, more acceptable to the public, than the old heavy one. This is not surprising or unusual. Whilst people expect a full value in their gold and silver coins, they merely want the inferior money for convenience in making exact payment, and not at all for the value of the copper, tin or nickel which may be present. If the law makes it a cent, of legal tender to a proper and sufficient extent, then it is a cent to every one using it, even if its intrinsic, should be only the one-tenth of its nominal and legal value. If any further proof of this fact should be demanded, we have only to refer to our own recent experience when illegal cents, or false cent tokens of the size of the legal cent, were made and freely passed -- although they contained no nickel, weighed on the average about 51 grains, and worth not more than one-fifth of a cent. Not less than three hundred varieties of those false and illegal tokens, or cents, have been made and issued; and until suppressed, were freely used as coin by the public. They were in direct violation of the laws of the United States, and the prosecution of certain parties issuing them have deterred others, and will soon drive them altogether from circulation.
We have, therefore, used a great deal of nickel to little purpose; and much of it from foreign countries, for which we had to pay in gold or its equivalent. We have given it away, under the mistaken notion that value was essential to secure the circulation of our inferior coinage, and to prevent its being counterfeited. The law regulating the cent coinage required it -- experience proves that an alloy more valuable than the principal metal, may be safely omitted.
Nickel derives its name from a certain unpleasant allusion, indicating its character, and which, in a metallurgic sense, it honestly deserves. It is very obstinate in the melting pot, requiring the fiercest fire even when in alloy with copper. It commonly makes a hard mixture, very destructive to dies, and all the contiguous parts of the coining machinery. Perhaps as great an objection as any to the further use of this alloy is its limited use in the arts. With the addition of zinc it would make good German silver, and could be worked up into plated ware. Beyond this, and a few other applications, copper with 12 per cent. of nickel is of no more value to the artizan than copper alone; it is even a deterioration, as it is more difficult to melt.
On the whole, it may now be advised, and even urged, that the law of coinage be modified, so as to provide that the cent, retaining its present size and devices, shall be composed of 95 per cent. copper; the remainder tin and zinc in suitable proportions.
An effort is now making to re-establish in our country the manufacture of nickel from native ores. If successful, as present appearances indicate it will be, the Mint may be supplied from this source, to the entire exclusion of the foreign article.
It is not easy to offer a conjecture as to the amount of cents that will be required to meet the public demand. Before the suspension of specie payments they were already considered redundant in quantity, and it was part of the hourly finesse of buyers and sellers to get rid of them. For the past two years, however, they have commanded a premium, and are now scarcely to be had. Up to the close of this fiscal year we have issued of the nickel cents 164,011,000 pieces. This seems enormous, especially as they are little used in the Western and Southern States. Other nations are largely in advance of us in this coinage. The new copper or bronze coinage of England amounts to nearly three times as much.
<H2 align=center>ALUMINIUM.</H2>
The postal currency has given us a renewed assurance, if any was needed, that a small piece of paper if made a legal tender and certain to be redeemed, is as readily current as a piece of silver. There is an important intimation and significance in this fact. All the silver that has gone into the three-cent, five-cent, and perhaps ten-cent piece, might have been reserved for larger coin, and these lesser coins be made of a cheap metal or mixture. Metallic money for small change is more acceptable than paper or any similar material. But what metal could be used for the proposed substitution? Copper has its place; it can hardly ascend higher than the cent. Tin, although a beautiful metal is too soft. Other objections will occur, to brass, zinc, lead or iron. The lately discovered metal "Aluminium," which may be extracted from every bed of clay, -- although it is at present most conveniently obtained from a mineral in Greenland, -- certainly possesses properties which are admirably suited to the "small change department." Firm, ductile, bright, cleanly, agreeable to the touch, resisting ordinary corrosions -- having a medium grade of fusibility, and above all, with a lightness of weight or low specific gravity which makes it a curiosity among metals, and which gives it a character not to be imitated -- these are the leading traits and characteristics that commend it to attention.
The principal difficulty to its use for " small change," or as a substitute for postal currency, lies in the price; which must be much reduced, and reach a probable "minimum," before this metal can serve the purpose. This may be expected. A few years ago, this article was equal to gold in value, a price merely fanciful. It can now be had for ten dollars a pound, which is seven grains for one cent. There ought to be at least, that much worth in the three-cent token and a proportionable value for the half-dime, but it must have sufficient bulk to be recognized by its lightness when poised upon the finger or by other simple process. If we assume that the three cent token should be as large as the nickel cent, then in the proportion of specific gravities, it would weigh 21 grains. Whenever, therefore, by another step in the process of metallizing alumina, the cost per pound shall be reduced to one-third of its present price -- and this may confidently be anticipated -- this subject deserves, and should receive, the earnest and favorable consideration of the law-making power. Its initial discussion at this time may be gratifying to many and especially interesting to men of science. These remarks are intended only as suggestive -- not a full discussion of the merits of this new metal or the purposes to which it may be applied.
I would respectfully and earnestly ask the attention of the Department to the proposition in my former report, to introduce a motto upon our coins expressive of a National reliance on Divine protection, and a distinct and unequivocal National recognition of the Divine Sovereignty. We claim to be a Christian Nation -- why should we not vindicate our character by honoring the God of Nations in the exercise of our political Sovereignty as a Nation?
Our national coinage should do this. Its legends and devices should declare our trust in God -- in Him who is the "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." The motto suggested, "God our Trust," is taken from our National Hymn, the "Star-Spangled Banner." The sentiment is familiar to every citizen of our country -- it has thrilled the hearts and fallen in song from the lips of millions of American Freemen. The time for the introduction of this or a similar motto, is propitious and appropriate. 'Tis an hour of National peril and danger -- an hour when man's strength is weakness -- when our strength and our nation's strength and salvation, must be in the God of Battles and of Nations. Let us reverently acknowledge his sovereignty, and let our coinage declare our trust in God.
Permit me again, to refer to the anomalous character of the silver dollar of the United States, and to the remarks on this subject in my report for the fiscal year, ending June 30, 1861.
The dollar is our unit of value; but the value of the gold and silver dollar, under existing laws, is not the same, and therefore we have no certain or determined standard of value. Gold being more fixed and certain in its valuation, is not only better than silver as a standard of value in our monetary system, but better expresses the equivalent value of foreign coins in our currency; and therefore the <I>gold dollar</I> should be, by law, adopted as the unit value of our money. For silver there is no fixed, legal valuation; the law providing for the shifting of price according to the condition of supply and demand. The present Mint price of standard silver is 1.22½ cents per ounce, Troy, payable in silver coins; an advance of one and one half cents per ounce, since January, 1862.
<H2 align=center>
<HR>
Aluminum cent first mentioned in 1863 Mint Report</H2>
In the end zinc/steel was simply the best compromise (cost, minting, longevity, commercial matters like suitability for vending machines). And of course the whole brouhaha was over pretty quickly. The dirty penny didn't live long.
In 1942 they tried bake-o-lite and white metals.
There's a thread with pics of a white metal 1942.
Thread with pics of 1942 white metal cents
<< <i>I don't recall the story, but I was just wondering why it was never minted for circulation. >>
I assume you are referring to the 1974-dated trial pieces struck in 1973.
The copper mining industry, which did not want to lose a market, and the vending machine industry, which did not want to have to retool its machines, paid for a brilliant lobbying campaign that torpedoed the plan. One of their biggest guns was testimony from doctors that if little Jimmy swallowed an aluminum cent they would not be able to find it on an x-ray machine. The fact that the remedy in either case (a laxative and time) was the same was ignored.
The vending machines of the time would probably have been jammed by an aluminum cent that was too light to pass through the machines and be rejected by them. I seem to recall that there was a problem with people trying to pass the old pull-tab can top rings as coins, and jamming the machines until a service man could clear them. The theory was that an aluminum cent would just sit there and back up other coins behind it.
TD
<< <i>
In 1942 they tried bake-o-lite and white metals.
There's a thread with pics of a white metal 1942.
Thread with pics of 1942 white metal cents >>
Great thread!
There's the perception that Americans hate aluminum and there
seems to be some truth in it. The vending industry feared these
were so light that they'd jam machines.
The dies were modified to strike the '74 aluminum cent and cop-
per coins exist from all three mints of both types.
<< <i> One of their biggest guns was testimony from doctors that if little Jimmy swallowed an aluminum cent they would not be able to find it on an x-ray machine. The fact that the remedy in either case (a laxative and time) was the same was ignored.
>>
This is pretty ironic in light of the fact that in 1982 they switched
to a composition which could kill little Jimmy if he swallowed the
coin. (and it might not even show up on autopsy)
But at least this coin looks like the old one.
"Because I can"
myurl The Franklin All Old Green Holder Set
<< <i>Maybe someday when copper rises again they'll use copper plated steel like some modern Canada cents.
In 1942 they tried bake-o-lite and white metals.
There's a thread with pics of a white metal 1942.
Thread with pics of 1942 white metal cents >>
Ah, yes! I remember that thread... Beautiful coin!
Hoard the keys.
to a composition which could kill little Jimmy if he swallowed the
coin. (and it might not even show up on autopsy)>>
There were doctors that claimed x-raying zinc would be a problem. I think they exaggerate.
I have seen many references to zinc cents poisoning dogs but never before a reference to them poisoning humans.
My granddaughter swallowed one once. The penny her older brother was playing with disappeared. The granddaughter colud no longer eat solid food but could drink milk. Her doctor would not x-ray her because we were not absolutely positive that she swallowed it. And he was an HMO primary care physician, so it is not easy getting around him. He is the gatekeeper. Eventually we got it removed. That doctor said "why didn't you bring her in sooner. It would have been easier."
<< <i>
There were doctors that claimed x-raying zinc would be a problem. I think they exaggerate.
I have seen many references to zinc cents poisoning dogs but never before a reference to them poisoning humans.
>>
Zinc in large quantities is toxic to all mammals, I believe.
It may be primarily blind luck that there are no reported human fatalities. The coin
will stop dissolving when it leaves the stomach and has to have a scratch or flaw
for the dissolution to begin. One coin probably won't be enough to prove fatal
for kids over ten or fifteen pounds. This means that generally multiple coins have
to be ingested before a fatality will occur and this is far more likely to happen to
pets and other animals than humans.
This poisoning would show up on autopsy but mimics other similar poisonings and
can be misattributed. Even where it's identified as zinc poisoning the source might
not be known.
<< <i>One reason mentioned in mint documents form the 1890s and again in 1912 the the tendency for aluminum to clog dies. >>
This makes CENTS, ( Yes, pun intended )