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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;GSDykes, post: 2218214, member: 73321&quot;]I really like aluminum coins. Especially the large diameter ones, and especially those minted for circulation. Survivors (when set aside) really show nice strikes, as aluminum is soft. Some show some parallel streaks, probably due to low maintenance of the dies. They often need cleaning to remove the very hard aluminum oxide which can build up. I am not sure how many years aluminum coins last in circulation, but it is not long! Many have some other metal alloyed (such as magnesium) to strengthen the coin. I would assume that -- for example -- an old Austrian aluminum coin circa 1951 (10 Groschen) with a mintage of about 9.5 million, would not have many uncirculated survivors. Who knows, maybe less than 50,000?? Choice specimens are starting to command proper premiums! Sadly most catalogues (Krause, NGC et al) do not show the mintages of many aluminum coins. So as a buyer, some study and common sense is required. Most coins being exchanged are of uncirculated or MS quality, as very worn one&#039;s have no market value. One may see 5 or 6 beautiful coins being all the same for sale on EBAY, which may give the impression that there are many around! There is usually not many around! However, many Chinese low denomination items are everywhere, and sell very cheaply. I avoid these, except for the few with known mintages.</p><p><br /></p><p>The sample below, is a survivor from 1953! And obviously is was stored out of circulation. The great French sculptor Bazor designed or engraved the coin. Some of these when slabbed sell for $240 (the Essai types). Which is kind of high for me. I shop for RAW items. The high priced slabbed coins indicate that there are not many choice one&#039;s around! At the moment there are several nice one&#039;s in EBAY in the 20 dollar range. Lets see what have ye??? Show me some surviving aluminum coins!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]434200[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>When this coin was minted in France, there was lots of trouble going on in Madagascar, at the time it was a colony of France. Today it is an independent nation, with ties to France. Has an interesting history.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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