Posted 05/30/2013 10:47 pm
While referring to the RCM's copper/zinc mix as a brass alloy might be more technically correct, there are prior cases of such an alloy being referred to as "bronze." For example, beginning in 1864 and continuing until 1982, the US used either a composition of 95% copper/5% tin and zinc OR 95% copper/5% zinc for its small one cent coins and typically referred to them as "bronze."
I would submit that the RCM chose to call the coin "bronze" because it is a more appealing descriptor than "brass" or "copper alloy" and is not necessarily incorrect.
In all fairness, I did find definitions of bronze that referred to it as an alloy of "copper and another metal" without specifying that the other metal needed to be tin or zinc. Also, I found reference to "Commercial Bronze" with is 90% copper and 10% zinc.
I would submit that the RCM chose to call the coin "bronze" because it is a more appealing descriptor than "brass" or "copper alloy" and is not necessarily incorrect.
In all fairness, I did find definitions of bronze that referred to it as an alloy of "copper and another metal" without specifying that the other metal needed to be tin or zinc. Also, I found reference to "Commercial Bronze" with is 90% copper and 10% zinc.
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
something about the term bronze, maybe because it is commonly used to refer to third place in competitions, gives it a slightly higher pedigree than brass.
