In OTL, many countries substituted inferior metals (in the practical sense, not necessarily in terms of monetary value) for the usual metals in their coins, especially the lower denominations, to save metals for strategic use during World Wars I and II.
In Europe, during WWI, iron and aluminum were the main go-to metals in lieu of bronze or cupronickel. During WWII, iron was eschewed due to experience with it rusting in circulation, but zinc was often used with almost as bad of results.
Japan actually used tin during WWII for a couple of fairly low denomination coins. Tin is pretty expensive (was it then?) but probably wasn't strategic. I would think tin coinage wouldn't fare so well in cold weather....
The US cent went from bronze to zinc-plated steel (yuck!) in 1943, and the nickel to a weird alloy of copper, manganese and silver from 1942 to 1945. The amount of silver was more than half that in the dime, and at the "legal" price of silver was worth about 7 cents. (The market price was much lower then, so there was no arbitrage.) Coins containing manganese look awful once they tarnish (note the current US dollar coin)!
If a modern understanding of metallurgy could be sent back in time, what would have been better substitutes?
It seems to me that the bronze coins would have been better off going to brass with as much zinc as possible (40%?) and the nickel/cupronickel coins to stainless steel (Italy's "acmonital"?). Any other thoughts?
In Europe, during WWI, iron and aluminum were the main go-to metals in lieu of bronze or cupronickel. During WWII, iron was eschewed due to experience with it rusting in circulation, but zinc was often used with almost as bad of results.
Japan actually used tin during WWII for a couple of fairly low denomination coins. Tin is pretty expensive (was it then?) but probably wasn't strategic. I would think tin coinage wouldn't fare so well in cold weather....
The US cent went from bronze to zinc-plated steel (yuck!) in 1943, and the nickel to a weird alloy of copper, manganese and silver from 1942 to 1945. The amount of silver was more than half that in the dime, and at the "legal" price of silver was worth about 7 cents. (The market price was much lower then, so there was no arbitrage.) Coins containing manganese look awful once they tarnish (note the current US dollar coin)!
If a modern understanding of metallurgy could be sent back in time, what would have been better substitutes?
It seems to me that the bronze coins would have been better off going to brass with as much zinc as possible (40%?) and the nickel/cupronickel coins to stainless steel (Italy's "acmonital"?). Any other thoughts?