Magnetic coins

[islandman]

I have one of those extending pencil shaped magnets, ideal if you drop something in a difficult place. Using it today, I noticed that some 2p coins are magnetic and jump / cling to the magnet, whilst others are not. It so happens that I don't have any other coins at the moment. Can anyone shed a light into this ?

[Catso]

Because copper increased in price so much, they changed the alloy a few years back. The newer ones have much more iron (I think) in them so as to be cheaper to make.

I think if the the coins were still real 'copper', they'd be worth more in scrap than face value.

[Loosehead]

Yes as above it was reported earlier in the year that older 2p coins where in fact worth 3p in copper!

[islandman]

The reason I ask is that we are off to Blackpool and no doubt we might spend a rainy hour with slot machines and marvel how the piles of 2p's just manage to remain "on the right side of falling", that is untill someone bumps about. It occured to me, that applying a magnet to the glass, might just take the amassed pile over the edge as to create an avalanche. But don't tell anyone.

[SteveD]

Have a look here:

http://www.royalmint.com/RoyalMint/web/site/Co rporate/Corp_british_coinage/CurrentSpecificat ions.asp

[heathfield]

'Bronze' 2p coins have been made by the Royal Mint since 1992 from copper-plated steel, apart from a batch of bronze ones made in 1998.
But you'll need a pretty powerful magnet, Islandman! It'd probably corrupt the magnetic strips on everyone's credit cards for miles around!