Chemistry/Composition of Canadian Coins

COMPOSITION OF CANADIAN COINS

The following information, available from the Canadian Mint, is invaluable for teachers wishing to make up a lab involving the analysis of currency. Thank you to Gordon Gore for referring me to this web site.
Reference: http://www.mint.ca/en/collectors_corner/circulation

Value	Years	Mass (g)	Composition
1¢	1908-20 1920-41 1942-77 1978-79 1980-81 1982-96 1997-99 2000-	5.67 3.24 3.24 3.24 2.8 2.5 2.25 2.35	95.5% Cu, 3.0% Sn, 1.5% Zn 95.5% Cu, 3.0% Sn, 1.5% Zn 98.0% Cu, 0.5% Sn, 1.5% Zn 98.0% Cu, 1.75% Sn, 0.25% Zn 98.0% Cu, 1.75% Sn, 0.25% Zn 98.0% Cu, 1.75% Sn, 0.25% Zn 98.4% Zn, 1.6% Cu plating 94.0% steel, 4.5% Cu, 1.5% Ni, (*) (NOTE: Magnetic!)
(*) Note that some pennies in 2000-01 had copper-plated steel compositions, as evidenced by a small “P” under the Queen.
5¢	1908-19 1920-21 1922-42 1942-43 1944-45 1946-51 1951-54 1955-81 1982-99 2000-	1.167 1.167 4.54 4.54 4.54 4.54 4.54 4.54 4.6 3.95	7.5% Cu, 92.5% Ag 20% Cu, 80% Ag 99% Ni 88% Cu, 12% Zn chrome plated steel 99.9% Ni chrome plated steel 99.9% Ni 75% Cu, 25% Ni 94.5% steel, 3.5% Cu, 2% Ni plating
10¢	1908-10 1910-11 1920-67 1968-77 1978-99 2000-	2.32 2.33 2.33 2.07 2.07 1.75	7.5% Cu, 92.5% Ag 7.5% Cu, 92.5% Ag 80.0% Ag; 20.0% Cu 99.9% Ni 99% Ni 92% steel, 5.5% Cu, 2.5% Ni plating
25¢	1908-10 1910-19 1920-67 1967-68 1968-99 2000-	5.81 5.93 5.83 5.05 5.05 4.4	7.5% Cu, 92.5% Ag 7.5% Cu, 92.5% Ag 80.0% Ag; 7.5% Cu 50.0% Ag; 50.0% Cu 99.9% Ni 94% steel, 3.8% Cu, 2.2% Ni plating
$1	1987-	7	91.5% Ni electroplated with 8.5% bronze plating
$2	1996-	7.3	outer ring = 99% Ni Inner core = 92% Cu, 2% Ni, 6% Al