GB_Amateur Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 21 hours ago, GB_Amateur said: I don't think a magnet answers the question. Wasn't there a period from mid-60's until ? during which Canadian higher denomination coins were (non-magnetic) nickel alloy? This webpage helps answer, and it looks like instead of the USA nickel alloy composition (25% Ni, 75% Cu) the Canadian mint used nearly pure nickel from 1968-1999 for dimes, quarters, and halves. Pure nickel is ferromagnetic so presumably these are attracted to a magnet also, besides those minted 2000 and onward which are primarily steel (boo!). I may have found some Canadian dimes in those 99.9% nickel composition years -- I'll see if I can find them and check with a magnet. Or maybe one of you would... Update: just checked a 1975 Canadian dime with a magnet. Yep, they attract! So although that won't tell you if it's iron (2000-present) or nickel (1968-1999), it should in most cases (I don't think 1982-1999 5 cent pieces which were same alloy as US 5 cent pieces) tell silver from non-silver. All the valuable stuff I learn here everyday.... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kac Posted July 3, 2020 Share Posted July 3, 2020 Pure nickel or near pure nickel will stick to a magnet like the tiny denmark coin which is probably similar to the transitional Canadian coins. Odd how once alloyed, nickels turn to trash in the ground. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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