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The Group 11 Elements (IB) of the periodic table
consist of the traditional coinage metals of copper, silver, and gold. They are also known as the "noble metals".
The name "coinage metals" is not recognized by the IUPAC, and can be
somewhat misleading as further elements are added to the table. The short-lived transactinide Unununium is also a member of Group 11.
They are all relatively inert, hard-to-corrode metals which have been used for minting
coins, hence their name. Many metals form colored compounds, such as iron pyrite, and many metals have a colored sheen, but apart from caesium, which also has 1 6s-electron, similar to gold, only gold and copper are colored.
These metals, especially silver, have unusual properties that make them essential for industrial applications outside of their
monetary or decorative value. They are all excellent conductors of electricity. The most conductive of
all metals are silver, copper and gold in that order. Silver is also the most thermally conductive element, and the most light
reflecting element. Silver also has the unusual property that the tarnish that forms on silver is still highly electrically
conductive.
Copper is used extensively in electrical wiring and circuitry. Gold contacts are sometimes found in precision equipment for
their ability to remain corrosion-free. Silver is used widely in mission-critical applications as electrical contacts, and is
also used in photography, agriculture, medicine, audiophile and scientific applications.
Gold, silver, and copper are quite soft metals and so are easily damaged in daily use as coins. Precious metal may also be
easily abraded and worn away through use. In their numismatic functions these
metals must be alloyed with other metals to afford coins greater durability. The alloying
with other metals makes the resulting coins harder to become deformed and more resistant to wear.
Gold coins are typically produced as either 90% gold (e.g. with pre-1933 US coins), or 22 carat (91.6%) gold (e.g. current collectible coins and Krugerrands), with copper and
silver making up the remaining weight in each case.
Silver coins are typically produced as either 90% silver - in the case of pre 1965 US minted coins (which
were circulated in many countries), or sterling silver (92.5%) coins
for pre-1967 British Commonwealth and other silver coinage, with copper making up the remaining weight in each case.
Copper coins are often of quite high purity, around 97%, and are usually alloyed with small amounts of
zinc and tin.
The rise of fiat currency has caused the face value of coins to fall below the hard currency value of the historically used metals. This had led to
most modern coins being made of metals other than silver or gold - Cupro-nickel (around
80:20, silver in color) is popular as are nickel-brass (copper (75), nickel (5) and zinc
(20), gold in color), manganese-brass (copper, zinc, manganese, and nickel),
bronze, or simple plated steel.
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