Today I took interest in coin collection. It started with US wheat pennies. Later, I discovered I had some canada currency which brings me to this question. THE MAGNET TEST! I have a 1988 Canada 5 cent piece and a 1963. The 63' stuck to the magnet but the 88' did not. My question is why is that? If you need more info pleae ask. Thakns, Matt
The composition of those two are different. Up to 1981 they were made of nickel (1.00 nickel); from 1982 - 2001 they were cupro-nickel (.75 copper .15 nickel) and from 1999 - 2003 they were made of steel. However there are some issues where both were made in the last decade. You should invest in a Charlton Standard Catalogue "Canadian Coins" which will give you a lot of information if you intend on collecting Canadian coinage.
From the wiki page on Canadian nickels... 1955 - 1981 99% nickel 1982 - 1999 75% copper 25% nickel 2000 - present 94.5% steel, 3.5% copper, 2% nickel plating Nickel is magnetic, so you would be able to pick up nickels from 82-99 if you had a very strong magnet.
This site claims that 25% nickel is not enough to make the coins magnetic. http://www.magneticcoins.info/p03what.htm I wonder if a very powerful magnet would work. Dunno. 2009 and 2010 canadian pennies come in both magnetic and nonmagnetic form in big numbers.
I have a non-mag 2001 no mint mark and a magnetic 2001 P. Is there any idea yet of which coins are the rarity? Any comments?
You are in for a great adventure!! But first... decide what you want to start with. Then buy the books and catalogues which cover the coins you are interested in. Buy the books first!! Read them!!
I need to get the Charleton guide, but in the meantime this site has been useful in my GWN collection (GWN = Great White North). http://www.coinsandcanada.com/index.php
25% nickel is not enough to be magnetic, as all US nickels (except war nickels) are 25%. And they don't stick to a magnet. Nickel is magnetic, so the nickel ones will stick, the dimes and nickels that are nickel plated steel are also magnetic.
When the magnet test was first used to separate coin metals, they were the old fashion magnets. Now there are rare earth composite magnets that are much much stronger than the old ALNICO horseshoe or bar magnet commonly used. The current magnets ( I suspect the magnet pictured above is a neodymium as they tend to be encased due to rapid oxidation). Most Alnico seem to 100+ times weaker of similar size Neos. I would be hesitant using a Neodymium as a test to send off. Better to have a XRF test. You might try separating the coins from the magnet with different thicknesses of books or pages to see if still similarity of attraction.Small amounts of difference with such a strong magnet could be from contaminants. IMO, Jim Neodymium labels Grade Gauss N35 11,700-12,100 N38 12,100-12,500 N40 12,600-12,900 N42 12,900-13,200 N45 13,500-13,800 N48 14,000-14,200 N50 14,300-14,500 N52 14,600-14,800
So I have a 1969 quarter and my friend has one but his doesn't stick to magnet but mine does also the colour is way diff weight as well and his rings when flicked mines just dull
Start your own thread and provide clear pictures.To me it sounds like just plated.How do these people find these ancient threads.
Yes, start a new thread. This thread is ages old. The 1969 quarter is 100% nickel and will be attracted to a STRONG magnet. If you were using the same magnet with the same date, then there's a problem.
