why aren't nickels in Silver Proof Sets 90% silver?

Looking at the informational sheet in the 2008 Silver Proof Set, I see
that the nickel consists of 25% nickel and balance copper, whereas all
the other silver colored coins consist of 90% silver and balance
copper. Any ideas as to why this is?

On Dec 26, 5:09*pm, yawnmoth wrote:
Looking at the informational sheet in the 2008 Silver Proof Set, I see
that the nickel consists of 25% nickel and balance copper, whereas all
the other silver colored coins consist of 90% silver and balance
copper. *Any ideas as to why this is?

Traditionally, the five cent coin never was 90% silver. Only the
traditional silver denominations are represented in silver. Color has
nothing to do with it.

oly

oly wrote:
On Dec 26, 5:09 pm, yawnmoth wrote:
Looking at the informational sheet in the 2008 Silver Proof Set, I see
that the nickel consists of 25% nickel and balance copper, whereas all
the other silver colored coins consist of 90% silver and balance
copper. Any ideas as to why this is?

Traditionally, the five cent coin never was 90% silver. Only the
traditional silver denominations are represented in silver. Color has
nothing to do with it.

oly

But if they were truly being traditional, they'd have made the cent out
of 95% copper instead of copper coated zinc.

"yawnmoth" wrote in message
...

Looking at the informational sheet in the 2008 Silver Proof Set, I see
that the nickel consists of 25% nickel and balance copper, whereas all
the other silver colored coins consist of 90% silver and balance
copper. Any ideas as to why this is?

Hello

On U.S. Mint silver coins.

The U.S. Mint makes both "clad proof" and "Silver
proof" coins. The "clad proof" coins do not contain
silver in them. "Clad proof" coins contains a
mixture of different metals such as copper
and nickel. Despite their appearance, "clad proof"
coins do not contain silver.

Since 1992, the San Francisco facility has produced
an annual set called the United States Mint Silver
Proof Set. For this collection, the dime,
quarter-dollar and half-dollar coins are all struck
from lustrous 90% silver, also known as coin silver.
Since 1999, this set has contained silver versions
of all five coins issued as part of the 50 State
Quarters Program.

Both pure silver, and pure gold, are very soft
metals. Copper is added as a hardener to both gold
and silver coins. The ratio mix is usually 90/10
(90% silver - 10% copper). Otherwise, pure gold or
silver coins would be to soft and easy to
deface.


..

"Arizona Coin Collector" wrote in message
m...

"yawnmoth" wrote in message
...

Looking at the informational sheet in the 2008 Silver Proof Set, I
see
that the nickel consists of 25% nickel and balance copper, whereas
all
the other silver colored coins consist of 90% silver and balance
copper. Any ideas as to why this is?

Hello

On U.S. Mint silver coins.

The U.S. Mint makes both "clad proof" and "Silver
proof" coins. The "clad proof" coins do not contain
silver in them. "Clad proof" coins contains a
mixture of different metals such as copper
and nickel. Despite their appearance, "clad proof"
coins do not contain silver.

Since 1992, the San Francisco facility has produced
an annual set called the United States Mint Silver
Proof Set. For this collection, the dime,
quarter-dollar and half-dollar coins are all struck
from lustrous 90% silver, also known as coin silver.
Since 1999, this set has contained silver versions
of all five coins issued as part of the 50 State
Quarters Program.

Both pure silver, and pure gold, are very soft
metals. Copper is added as a hardener to both gold
and silver coins. The ratio mix is usually 90/10
(90% silver - 10% copper). Otherwise, pure gold or
silver coins would be to soft and easy to
deface.

Gee thanks Mr. Science!

In article , "Arizona Coin Collector" wrote:

"yawnmoth" wrote in message
...

Looking at the informational sheet in the 2008 Silver Proof Set, I see
that the nickel consists of 25% nickel and balance copper, whereas all
the other silver colored coins consist of 90% silver and balance
copper. Any ideas as to why this is?

Hello

On U.S. Mint silver coins.

The U.S. Mint makes both "clad proof" and "Silver
proof" coins. The "clad proof" coins do not contain
silver in them. "Clad proof" coins contains a
mixture of different metals such as copper
and nickel. Despite their appearance, "clad proof"
coins do not contain silver.

Since 1992, the San Francisco facility has produced
an annual set called the United States Mint Silver
Proof Set. For this collection, the dime,
quarter-dollar and half-dollar coins are all struck
from lustrous 90% silver, also known as coin silver.
Since 1999, this set has contained silver versions
of all five coins issued as part of the 50 State
Quarters Program.

Both pure silver, and pure gold, are very soft
metals. Copper is added as a hardener to both gold
and silver coins. The ratio mix is usually 90/10
(90% silver - 10% copper). Otherwise, pure gold or
silver coins would be to soft and easy to
deface.


..


and even with the hardening, people were shaving, hollowing out and even
splitting coins in half to steal gold right up to the day gold was recalled to
the mint. i know someone who collects coins that were nicked, one of each
variety of nicking he can find. he has a saint with a lead interior.

"RWF" wrote in message
...


Gee thanks Mr. Science!


wrote in message
...

and even with the hardening, people were shaving, hollowing out and even
splitting coins in half to steal gold right up to the day gold was
recalled to
the mint. i know someone who collects coins that were nicked, one of each
variety of nicking he can find. he has a saint with a lead interior.


Hello

I have often though of taking a job with the United
States Mint. I could not afford the move from
Phoenix to Denver (or any other place). The economy
is just to bad, and I am to poor to take such a risk of
moving at this time.

My education, and 20-plus years of experience has been
in Electronics. My last employer was a small manufacturing
contractor that did both electronic circuit cards, and sheet
metal enclosures. A very strange combination. He also did
wet and power paint as well.

I will be telling my grandnieces when they go to college,
to take a profession that cannot be exported out of the
United States. That is what I should have done when I
was young.


...

In article , "Arizona Coin Collector" wrote:

"RWF" wrote in message
...


Gee thanks Mr. Science!


wrote in message
...

and even with the hardening, people were shaving, hollowing out and even
splitting coins in half to steal gold right up to the day gold was
recalled to
the mint. i know someone who collects coins that were nicked, one of each
variety of nicking he can find. he has a saint with a lead interior.


Hello

I have often though of taking a job with the United
States Mint. I could not afford the move from
Phoenix to Denver (or any other place). The economy
is just to bad, and I am to poor to take such a risk of
moving at this time.

My education, and 20-plus years of experience has been
in Electronics. My last employer was a small manufacturing
contractor that did both electronic circuit cards, and sheet
metal enclosures. A very strange combination. He also did
wet and power paint as well.

I will be telling my grandnieces when they go to college,
to take a profession that cannot be exported out of the
United States. That is what I should have done when I
was young.


...


or nursing. chronic shortage of nurses and when the boomer die off gets
rolling, ka-ching!
if they are inclined, pa's and drs, too.

On Dec 26, 5:44*pm, Edwin Johnston wrote:
oly wrote:
On Dec 26, 5:09 pm, yawnmoth wrote:
Looking at the informational sheet in the 2008 Silver Proof Set, I see
that the nickel consists of 25% nickel and balance copper, whereas all
the other silver colored coins consist of 90% silver and balance
copper. *Any ideas as to why this is?

Traditionally, the five cent coin never was 90% silver. *Only the
traditional silver denominations are represented in silver. *Color has
nothing to do with it.

oly

But if they were truly being traditional, they'd have made the cent out
of 95% copper instead of copper coated zinc.


Very frankly, I am reasonably certain that the Mint could do a good
sale of traditional copper cents. Maybe make two or three million per
annum and sell them in $25 or $50 bags at five cents per coin. I wish
that they would do next year's four commemorative cents in good
bronze. It would be a boost to the elongated coin rollers, for sure.

oly

In article ,
Arizona Coin Collector wrote:

Both pure silver, and pure gold, are very soft
metals. Copper is added as a hardener to both gold
and silver coins. The ratio mix is usually 90/10
(90% silver - 10% copper). Otherwise, pure gold or
silver coins would be to soft and easy to
deface.

Last time the issue of gold content of jewelry came up in another
newsgroup, the same statement was made--that pure gold was too soft
to make anything out of--and the reply was "Only Americans seem to
have that problem". Allegedly jewelers in India, etc. have no
problem making jewelry out of pure gold. I don't know who to
believe.

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