Copper medal by Metallium, Inc. Photo used by permission.
Diameter 19 mm, 5.1 grams, 99.9% pure. $7 on 6/9/2006.
Copper (Latin cuprum) was known to ancient man. Ancient copper and bronze coins are found by the millions.
Pure copper is fairly soft, so to improve its durability in modern coins copper is typically alloyed with tin, zinc or other metals. Today, pure copper coins are not made, although the United States produced copper large cents and half cents until 1857.
Most alloys used for coinage contain some copper. Only one regular issue US coin, the 1943 steel cent, contains no copper at all.
Copper medal by Metallium, Inc. Photo used by permission.
Diameter 19 mm, 5.1 grams, 99.9% pure. $7 on 6/9/2006.