COPPER AND SILVER ALLOY.

Shannon News, 18 March 1924, Page 3

COPPER AND SILVER ALLOY.

THICKER FLORINS, Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of silver coin, fresh from the Mint, was distributed by the London banks recently. This is the first of the new currency. It is promised that it will be an improvement on the last issue, in which it was decided, on the ground of economy, to use an alloy instead of practically pure silver. The mixtuila of silver and nickle has not proved a great success. After a little wear coins of this alloy have taken on a green or brownish tinge, which caused doubts whether they were genuine. In the new coins a blend of silver and copper has been employed. , The least expert eye would not mistake them for silver, but they are quite good-looking. Half crowns and florins (says the Daily Chronicle) are considerably thicker than those issued a year ago. . » It was suggested not long since that if we could not revert to pure silver coinage the British Mint authorities might Avell use Sheffield plate. Silver ■money being merely a token, there is no reason why the State should sink , a great deal of capital in making it 1 approximate to face value,