2006-11-03 07:05:01 · 19 answers · asked by Brian G 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Because they are a copper alloy.
2006-11-03 07:09:43 · answer #1 · answered by Goofy Goofer Goof Goof Goof ! 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Copper Plated Steel
The reason some coins are magnetic is because they are made of steel, which is magnetic, rather than bronze, which is not.
In 1992, the Royal Mint started to produce pennies and twopences made of copper-plated steel instead of bronze (copper has not been used since 1860!). The 1992 coins can be found in both bronze and copper-plated steel. This was done, as in many other countries, to reduce production costs of coins. Most people don't take much notice of the coins in their change, and the media don't usually bother reporting such changes at the time, presumably because it's not the right kind of news to sell newspapers. It's also possible that the Royal Mint or the Government don't bother to promote news about such changes, because there is no profit or votes in it. When people do hear such news, it's also the sort of news they tend to forget about, because it doesn't appear to affect them immediately.
2006-11-03 07:16:57 · answer #2 · answered by Kandieapples 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They didn't use to be. They changed the metal content to save money though. I think it was around 1998. 'Copper' coins before then aren't magnetic - afterwards they are.
Our 'copper' coins aren't totally copper. Think about all the makeover shows on TV - they use lots of copper and it naturally turns green left exposed to the air. Imagine green 2ps!!
2006-11-03 09:40:34 · answer #3 · answered by Stanleymonkey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have more metal in them than copper, i think after 1989 when the thick goverment relized we were running short of copper they added other cheap metals .two pence is worth four pence scrap value if the date is before 1989 or somewhere near that date, find the real date and go make some coin.
2006-11-03 07:22:59 · answer #4 · answered by clare p 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Between 1973 (decimalisation) and 1992, one penny and two penny coins were not magnetic. They were made from copper-nickel alloy. After 1992, metal prices changed and it became more economic to make them out of steel.
2006-11-03 07:20:43 · answer #5 · answered by Leo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you get some old (decimal) 'copper' coins they are not magnetic. More recent ones contain iron to cheapen them and are magnetic.
RoyS
2006-11-03 17:59:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they would be worth more than their face value if they were made of copper. So, they are now copper plated steel.
2006-11-06 04:13:49 · answer #7 · answered by Spanner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it varies dependant on the present metallic costs.maximum cutting-edge money have extreme iron content cloth(verify with magnet)copper metallic has more effective in fee a lot that it might fee more effective than the face fee to make the coin.desire this helps
2016-12-05 12:19:33 · answer #8 · answered by segerman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the american penny is actually 97.5% zinc, with a copper coating.
most coins around the world are similar, cheap inside, with a coating.
2006-11-03 07:16:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be copper coated with a steel core
2006-11-03 07:07:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋