Question

Properties of alloy used for minting coins

Answer 1

Coins that are intended for circulation have some special requirements based on the conditions they will encounter. For example, a coin might be in circulation for up to 30 years, and so must have excellent wear resistance and anti-corrosion properties.

A common base metal alloy used for coinage is cupronickel, with varying proportions of copper and nickel, most commonly 75% Cu 25% Ni. Today, however, with the prices of both copper and nickel rising, it has become more common to experiment with various alloys of steel, often stainless steel (18% Cr).