Mint begins trial strikes in composition tests

Exploring replacement metals for cent, 5-cent coin

By Paul Gilkes-Coin World Staff | Jan. 17, 2012 9:44 a.m.


Coinage metal alternatives for the copper-plated zinc cent and copper-nickel Jefferson 5-cent coin were the main target of U.S. Mint officials to reduce production costs, but research and development currently under way addresses possible replacements for all circulating denominations.



The United States Mint began producing trial strikes in December at the Philadelphia Mint using nonsense dies to test potential compositional replacements for current circulating coinage alloys.


The test strikes were produced as part of a two-year research study seeking alternative metals to reduce production costs.


Additional trial strikes are scheduled to be conducted in February or March at the Philadelphia Mint, according to Tom Jurkowsky, director of the U.S. Mint’s Office of Public Affairs...


...In its recommendations to the United States Mint, CTC, according to Pickens, will address various factors, such as the effect of new metallic coinage materials on the current suppliers of coinage materials; the acceptability of new metallic materials; costs of metallic material, fabrication, minting and distribution; metallic material availability and sources of raw metals; coinability; durability; effect on sorting, handling, packaging and vending machines; appearance; risks to the environment or public safety; resistance to counterfeiting; and commercial and public acceptance...