The Obama administration has apparently reached out to the US mint to evaluate alternative materials for minting
US coinage.
Alternative Metals Study
Solicitation Number: USM-HQ-11-0040-1
Agency: Department of the Treasury
Office: United States Mint (USM)
Location: Manufacturing Procurement Branch
So now that we know its not a matter of if, but rather when coins will be debased, my question is what do we think the new material will be?
Tungsten
Alum
Steel?
Or perhaps something more creative?
Ceramics
Plastic?
This is a speculative discussion of course. But it does make me wonder if I would even bother to collect new coinage if it is further debased. I mean if the quarter is made of steel, then would a machine vender no longer mind if you stick slugs in the pop machine?