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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,416 |
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Valued Member
Canada
262 Posts |
Anyone here know the technology of coins, worked at the US Mint or anything? I'm really expecting the US Mint report at the end of the year to bring about huge changes for the penny and nickel [plated steel]. I'm curious as to how cheap they can be with the penny and nickel [nickel or cupronickel plating for the nickel].
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Moderator
 United States
188052 Posts |
The cent needs to go away or NIFC. Even if the material for plating and the core were free, the cent would still lose money. I think they can probably leave the nickel alone for now, but they will eventually have to end it as well. To fully answer your question, I do not know. My typical rant was a shameless bump.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
I think they will change the composition for the nickel. They are losing way too much money on it. I think they will follow the way of Canada on the nickel.
I'm not sure if the US Mint will try minting a cent of a different composition for just next year and then eliminate the cent or not though? The Cu plating will probably be the same as it is now. I don't think they can make it any thinner.
They have until mid December to report what they are changing to.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2269 Posts |
I said it once before. I love Lincoln cents but I understand the reasons why it should be eliminated. The best solution in my opinion is to only mint Lincoln cents for the regular Denver and Philadelphia Mint sets and San Francisco Proof sets. It solves the problem of unnecessary waste and disappointing collectors. In the end, almost everyone can be happy. I say almost everyone, because you can't please them all.
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Moderator
United States
188052 Posts |
Of course,  ! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
As happens so often, the original question just got lost. If I remember the question was what percent of the coins metal is Copper. Quote:
What is the minimum percentage of Cu for full penny plating? Obviously it is more important to start a new post about getting rid of the penny.   As to the percent. I don't have any idea at all. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
To get to the answer to the question of this thread, it is necessary to know what the weight of an unplated penny core is. Perhaps some guy in the CCF can supply the answer, by weighing an unplated error or unplated planchet for us, or to be able supply that information from an authoritive source.
The difference between the standard panny and an unplated core is the nett weight of the copper in the coin. The plating would need to be reasonably thick enough to withstand the rigors of circulation.
My guess is that the copper plating would comprise less than 5% of the total mass of the coin.
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Valued Member
 Canada
262 Posts |
You guys should get rid of the penny as well. We've turned off the presses and it will be be gone from circulation this fall, following New Zealand and later Australia's lead. I just bought something for 4.01, and after I put the two toonies and a quarter on the table, the cashier pushed the quarter back. It's true that sometimes you lose with rounding as well, but either way pennies just aren't worth caring about [unless they're copper/old or in special mint sets].
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Valued Member
United States
318 Posts |
I would be willing to bet a very large sum of money at very good odds that nothing will be done to the US penny before the elections. The Republicans would tear Obama apart reminding everyone how his spending policies destroyed the value of the dollar. Romney would pay some lip service to us hard money guys by parading Ron Paul around, and sweep every district.
Penny is safe till year end, then all bets are off.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
AND yet no one wants to attempt to answer the original question. Makes me wonder what would happen if someone asked how coins are made. Probably the replies would be about baking a cake. With all the well informed members I would think someone would at least try.
For statistics the present Cent is composed of 0.992 Zinc & 0.008 Copper mixture. This is plated with Pure Copper bringing the total Copper used to 0.023 or something like that.
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Moderator
United States
188052 Posts |
Quote:
As happens so often, the original question just got lost. I did not lose it. I did say "To fully answer your question, I do not know." |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Currently the Zincoln is 2.5% copper. But it would be possible to reduce that and make that plating layer much thinner. Currently the plating is about .0002 inch thick. They could probably get that down to .00002 inches but considering they already have problems with plating splits I doubt they would try to go much below .0001 inch.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
Quote:
I would be willing to bet a very large sum of money at very good odds that nothing will be done to the US penny before the elections. The Mint is just analyzing on what to do right now. Once they publish their report to the Treasury Dept, a decision will be made, in December (their deadline is in Mid December, I think the 14th), on what to do. They can publish their findings sooner though, so we are all hanging by a moment. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
If they don't make their report until mid December there won't be time to debate the issue and pass new legislation before the end of the year (not to mention that the Congress will be winding down and a whole new legisative cycle will be starting in Jan.) This would mean that it would be way too late for changes to take effect before 2013, so one more year of throwing money away.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2295 Posts |
Woohoo!  Hopefully they will submit it long before then. The NN had a great article in it, for this week. |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,416 |
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Posted 05/14/2012 3:35 pm
