Zirconium medal by Metallium, Inc. Photo used by permission.
Diameter 19 mm, 2.8 grams, 98.7% pure. $16 on 9/24/2006.
Zirconium is an attractive, lightweight, corrosion-resistant metal. You'd think these properties would make zirconium ideal for coinage, but no zirconium coins have ever been issued.
Fred Zinkann (eBay userid equillink) designs and strikes beautiful trial pieces from unusual metals including zirconium. These "fantasy issues" are not legal tender, but they do have denominations and real place names.
Because it has a low neutron capture coefficient, zirconium is used for parts in nuclear reactors. The Wah Chang Company (also known as Wah Chang Albany and Teledyne Wah Chang) specializes in fabricating parts for the nuclear industry out of exotic metals such as zirconium. At one time they made hexagonal zirconium tokens (both anodized and non-anodized) for prospective buyers. Although they haven't made any for several years, you can still find them on eBay from time to time.
Zirconium medal by Metallium, Inc. Photo used by permission.
Diameter 19 mm, 2.8 grams, 98.7% pure. $16 on 9/24/2006.