1914 Estado de Durango (Mexico revolutionary period) 1 centavo, $30.66 on 7/26/2007 from eBay seller conciv5
1914 Estado de Durango (Mexico revolutionary period) 1 centavo, $30.66 on 7/26/2007 from eBay seller conciv5
Lead (Latin plumbum) has been used in coinage for thousands of years. Its low melting point means it is easy to cast. Lead is also easy to work and strike due to its softness, which is also a drawback because these coins wear down quickly in circulation. Today we also know that lead is toxic, so we will probably never again see lead coins minted.
The ease of working with lead make it a popular metal to use for counterfeits. Often they are silver plated to give the appearance of being solid silver. Lead coins appear on eBay from time to time. Many of them are fakes.
Here is a lead Cash coin from Vietnam. The inscription reads "Hi Dao Nguyen Bao" in the Vietnamese pronunciation of the Chinese characters.
Lead medal by Metallium, Inc. Photo used by permission.
Diameter 19 mm, 4.9 grams, 99.9% pure. $8 on 8/14/2006.