Japan, "kan-ei tsu-ho" Cash. Diameter approx 24mm.
Japan, "kan-ei tsu-ho" Cash. Diameter approx 24mm.
Iron (Latin ferrum) has been known since ancient times, and coins have been made of iron since ... well, since the Iron Age. Iron tends to rust, so examples don't typically survive well, especially in damp climates.
Cash coins have been made for thousands of years by China and other countries in Asia such as Japan, Vietnam and Korea, all of which at one time or another have been under Chinese influence. Most cash coins are bronze, but some are made of iron. The iron ones are generally more valuable to collectors because fewer were made and because fewer have survived in collectable condition. Cash coins were cast from molten metal into sand moulds. After the metal cooled, the sand mould was disassembled, thus destroying it. The coins, resembling leaves on a metal "tree", would be broken off the branches of the tree and filed round if necessary. Because a master tree was used to press many sand moulds, the resulting coins were surprisingly consistent in design.
A few countries have issued modern coins of pure iron: Finland between 1943 and 1953, and Bulgaria in 1943. But usually coins are made of iron alloys such as steel. Some countries have issued stainless steel coins.
Iron medal by Metallium, Inc. Photo used by permission.
Diameter 19mm, 3.4 grams, 99.9% pure. $13 on 9/2/2006.
1943 Lincoln Cents were made of steel with a coating of zinc to prevent rust. In circulation the soft zinc began to wear off rather quickly, leaving the coin an unappealing mosaic of zinc, dull steel, and rust. A few 1944 cents were made of steel in error. Fakes are common, but only a real 1944 steel cent would be attracted to a magnet. Conversely, a real 1943 cent NOT made of steel (also a great rarity) would NOT be attracted to a magnet.
USA, 1 cent, 1943, zinc-plated steel. Diameter 19mm, 2.70g