I know that part way through 1968, Canada switched their quarter and dime planchets from a 50% silver and 50% copper composition to a 99% nickel composition. Here are my questions: 1. Did they use the same dies, or did they change out the dies due to the new composition of the planchets? I would imagine that with nickel being twice as hard as silver or copper, that they might have changed dies. 2. If they didn't change dies, did they mix the planchets when they transitioned? 3. If they did change dies, are there any details or markers that can let me tell the difference between the 50/50 silver copper planchets vs the 99% nickel planchets visually without having to weigh the coin?
They probably adjusted the pressure for the striking of the new planchets. The US Mint did it for the 1943 Steel Cents I don't think they mixed the old and new planchets. They probably used the old ones first then started fresh with the new ones. Try the tissue test for silver..
Text from coins and Canada, and a link to Numista https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces366.html Specifications - 25 cents 1968 - Nickel Alloy: 100% nickel Weight: 5.07 grams Diameter : 23.88 mm, thickness 1.60 mm Engraver: Obverse: Arnold Machin, Reverse: Emanuel Hahn Designer: Obverse: Arnold Machin, Reverse: Emanuel Hahn Edge: Reeded Magnetism: Magnetic Die axis: ↑↑ Specifications - 25 cents 1968 - Silver Alloy: 50% silver, 50% copper Weight: 5.83 grams Diameter : 23.88 mm Engraver: Obverse: Arnold Machin, Walter Ott, Reverse: Emanuel Hahn, Thomas Shingles Designer: Obverse: Arnold Machin, Walter Ott, Reverse: Emanuel Hahn, Thomas Shingles Edge: Reeded Magnetism: Nonmagnetic Die axis: ↑↑
The Nickel will slam to a magnet it is the best way to check and what almost all Canadian Roll hunter do. Test that work for Clad coins may not work. There is one exception to different 100% nickel coins being different in 1968 and those are the 10 cent coins stuck at Philadelphia with US collars the redding is different
