Post your unusual/vintage copper bars (AMAX Copper medallic ingot)

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by dcarr, Jan 12, 2025.

Tags:
  1. dcarr

    dcarr Mint-Master

    This thread is for the posting of vintage collectible copper ingots, such as souvenirs from mines, smelters, etc. I have noticed that the market for vintage collectible copper ingots is quite strong recently, especially for those that are souvenirs from mining companies and refiners.

    I will start with this one.
    When I saw it offered for a fairly cheap price, I bought it for my collection of vintage non-precious ingots. Anybody who pours molten silver or copper knows that when it is very pure it will grow crystals as it cools into an ingot. This one really shows the crystals and I think that was the point of this promotional piece. As the light angle changes, different crystals "light up". This is probably the purest item of copper that I know of.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    I don't have any copper bars or ingots Dan. Thats a cool ingot you have there. I will be on the look out.
     
  4. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

    Maybe unusual with the Cu element symbol.
    I purchased this neat Copper 1 Ounce at the Museum of Natural History gift shop in NYC. They have an amazing Rock, Minerals and Gem display there!

    20180602_122015-1.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2025
  5. -monolith-

    -monolith- Supporter! Supporter

    Here's my copper:​

    photo.jpg photo-02.jpg photo-01.jpg
     
    Chris B, ToughCOINS and Eric the Red like this.
  6. Eric the Red

    Eric the Red Exploring the World of Coins Supporter

  7. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    Getting big crystal grains like that requires fairly pure metal, but I think the more important factor is very slow cooling. Makes me want to try making some myself.

    (I did have to laugh at the bit about 99.99 being "the purest copper commercially obtainable" - especially coming from a company that claims to sell to the semiconductor industry, where 99.9999 sometimes isn't quite pure enough!)

    I'm remembering a tale from a materials-science friend, about a group that had ordered in a block of specially-annealed copper for some specialized use, at great expense. One of the lab workers dipped it in a solvent to remove any surface residue, then removed it and gave it a good shake to get rid of most of the liquid - and the block wrapped around his hand. And, of course, bending it work-hardened it, so it was ruined.
     
  8. dcarr

    dcarr Mint-Master

    Better than 99.99% is certainly possible today. This AMAX round is from the 1970s, so there might not have been anything available with higher purity at the time.
     
    -jeffB likes this.
  9. ToughCOINS

    ToughCOINS Dealer Member Moderator

    Now, that's both a funny story and a sad one. Surely, that set the project schedule back a bit.
     
  10. Sting 60

    Sting 60 Well-Known Member

    I use these as door stops. Ten lbs. A piece
    20220526_211438.jpg
     
    Chris B, -jeffB and Eric the Red like this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page