Greetings ! Can anyone tell me where I can find the composition alloy for the subject Nickels ? It's not stated in my 2013, 66th Edition of the Red Book, page 139 and I didn't see this information on Wikipedia or several other coin websites on the Internet. Is there some reason this information was not included in my Red Book ? Thanks, ToddB67
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_(United_States_coin)#Westward_Journey Same composition since 1866
Hi, Todd! If you look on p.135 of your 2013 Red Book, you will note that it states: ....composition (1938-1942, 1946 to date), .750 copper, .250 nickel.... Chris
I believe that not specifying in the Red Book in the intro to the issue that means it's the same as the previous issue.
Chris, Thanks for trying to help, but p.135 deals with the Jefferson Nickels. In my post #1, I am asking about the composition of the "Westward Journey" series Nickels, shown on page 139. ToddB67
What do you think the term "1946 to date" means! 1946-2016 includes the Westward Journey years! Chris
http://www.mintproducts.com/2005-westward-journey-coin-medal-set.html Shoot. What the devil did I pay (back then) when I bought this set from the mint? Ouchers for sure. The freakin' medal is ridiculous. They should have just left it bronze.
Hi vintagemintage ! In reply to your last statement above, what exactly has the composition been for the "Westward Journey" Nickels since 1866 ? Please be more specific and I would appreciate a supporting reference. I went to the Wikipedia address you kindly gave above and there was a "ton" of Bla,Bla . Why can't I ever get a straight answer to a simple question using the Internet ? Anyway, I did find the following information using the Wikipedia address you gave and copied & pasted a paragraph below that was titled Increase in metal values right below the information titled Westward Journey commemoratives (2004–2005), so I assume they are connected. As of December, 2014 it appears a composition of ~77% copper, ~20% nickel, and ~3% manganese was being considered, but more testing was recommended. So, at that time, the final analysis was still up in the air, according to this information. In December 2014, the Mint released its next Biennial report in response to the CMOCA. In it, the Mint declared that plated zinc products did not hold up to steam/wear tests and were rejected for US coins outside the penny (which does not see significant use by the public). Materials considered "feasible" for the 5-cent coin were nickel-plated steel, multi-ply-plated steel, and potentially another copper/nickel alloy, this time with ~77% copper, ~20% nickel, and ~3% manganese. Further testing was recommended to explore even less expensive alloys that would not require changes to vending machines (as the steel-based materials would require). ToddB67
A "Westward Journey" Nickel IS a Jefferson Nickel, just like a 50 State Quarter is a Washington Quarter!
Go back to the link I referenced, scroll ALL the way to the top of the page, and READ just a couple of sentences.
I'll bet the OP has one of the rare Westward Journey "experimental composition" pattern nickels that most don't know about. It's a fact that the Redbook authors were strongly advised not to print the actual composition for these coins so as not to start a frantic search or hoarding of all nickels until the truth came out - just like the "Cheerios" dollars.
I'll bet he didn't take Algebra in high school. Either that, or he didn't get a passing grade. Chris PS. Now, I'll probably get a response from @ToddB67 something like, "What does Algebra have to do with Westward Journey nickels?"