Brake Through Color Cycle On Ike Clads

Not sure how a clad IKE takes on the copper toning color. I have often wondered about the difference between copper-nickel and cupronickel, I've seen this distinction on some coins in Krause. One year copper-nickel, the next cupronickel. I thought the clad surfaces on Ike's and other post 1965 US coins was pure nickel, is it part copper too?

These British half pennies show the copper toning you mentioned thou.

Left to right they are...

Victoria 1900 - nearly black
Edward VIII 1903 - orange to reddish-brown
George V 1935 - full brown
George VI 1938 - full brown
Elizabeth II 1967 - coppery-orange-ish




I don't want to seem like I'm hi-jacking this thread but I keep forgetting to post this image on the right day for 'How far back can we go? Second Edition!' plus they are purdy

Thanks, that is exactly what I thought when I read the copper life cycle it explains the tones in the picture perfectly, that Vickie is totally black and in fine shape too.

Yes.

http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_min...ecifications

Mint calls it Cupronickel - 8.33% Ni Balance Cu, but that is an average (per Wikipedia) composed of:

• outer layers of 75.0% copper 25.0% nickel


• core of 100% copper

In all giving the 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel