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The 1 euro coin is bi-metallic: the inner part of
cupronickel, the outer part of nickel
brass
'Bi-metallic coins' are
coins consisting of more than one
metal or
alloy, generally arranged with an outer ring around a contrasting center. Common circulating examples include the
€1,
€2,
British £2,
Canadian $2 and
South African R5.
Bi-metallic coins have been issued for a long time, with examples known dating from the 1600s. The
silver-center cent pattern produced by the
United States in 1792 is another example. In recent times, the first circulating bi-metallic coin was probably the 500
Italian lire, first issued in 1982. France, with a 10
franc coin and Thailand, with a 10
baht, issued bi-metallic coins for circulation in 1988.
As well as circulating coins, where they are generally restricted to high denomination coins, bi-metallic coins are often used in
commemorative issues.
The manufacturing process is similar to that of ordinary coins, except that two blanks (the inner and the outer) are struck at the same time, deforming the separate blanks sufficiently to hold them together.
External links
★
www.wbcc-online.com Bi-metallic coin collectors' website
★
Coincat, The online coin catalog
★
A History of Bi-metallic Coins