Is My Nickel Actually Made of Gold?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around a participant's inquiry about a nickel that appears to be made of gold, exploring whether it could be gold-plated or if it might actually be a different coin, such as a penny. The scope includes identification of coins, potential material composition, and humorous commentary.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the authenticity of a nickel that looks gold, suggesting it may be plated and expressing curiosity about its true composition.
  • Another participant humorously suggests that the coin might actually be a penny.
  • A suggestion is made to measure the weight of the coin against a standard nickel to determine its authenticity.
  • References to "gold clad" buffalo nickels are introduced, noting that these are not actual currency but copies, which raises questions about the nature of the coin in question.
  • Humorous remarks about peeling back foil to find chocolate inside add a light-hearted tone to the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the nature of the coin, with multiple competing views presented regarding its identity and composition.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes references to specific types of coins and their characteristics, but lacks detailed examination of the implications of coin composition or the significance of gold cladding.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in coin collecting, numismatics, or those curious about coin identification and material properties may find this discussion relevant.

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So, WTH is going on here? I received this otherwise ordinary-seeming nickel as change for my lunch today. It appears to be made of gold (plated?). I didn't make the scratches on it; my guess would be that some other curious individual was as confused as I am and decided to see if it was just plated. To the naked-eye, it would appear not, but in the close-up photo I am seeing a bit of "silver" coloring, implying that it is. I'm tempted to cut it open to find out for sure. Downside being that then I can't use it to buy 0.923 ounces of soda at work...

Opinions?

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Plot twist: It's actually a penny
 
Measure its weight against a normal nickle.
 
lisab said:
Measure its weight against a normal nickle.

WAD - What would Archie do?
(Except running around naked)
 
Enigman said:
...
(Except running around naked)
What is that supposed to mean ?
 
What is that supposed to mean ?
I guess he means Archie Meedies. You know, that guy whose best buddy was Harry Stottle.
 
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Ben Niehoff said:
They just had "gold clad" buffalo nickels on sale last night for $9.99. Limit 5 per customer. Each had 14 mg of gold "cladding".

edit: the caveat was that these were not actually US currency. Just copies of buffalo nickels.
 
just don't accept any "wooden nickels" :wink:

Dave
 
  • #10
Do a quick check.
Peel back the foil and there should be some milk chocolate inside.
 

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