French 5 Franc Coins

[natsb88]

I purchased this nickel lot: http://www.ebay.com/itm/230724513341

It includes a significant number of post-81 Canadian nickels, which are not .999, and some other world coins I am working to identify. There are also quite a few 5 Fran coins, which I am finding mixed information on. Currencydebasement lists them as "high nickel," there are listed in a few places here as .999 nickel, but Wikipedia and a couple other places here list them as nickel-clad cupronickel. Can anybody point me to documentation of the composition? I am going to pull out all the non-999 and contact the seller with the weight of the incorrect coins....

[Bluegill]

According to the Krause catalog, they are Ni clad CuNi. A magnet is barely attracted to them.

If you have a decent relationship with a scrapyard, ask them to check it with a Titon analyzer. That will tell you the composition of the surface. Then check an area that is ground down a bit to check the core.

[uthminsta]

Link didn't work. How many pounds were you talking about there? As for the fineness, member CURRENCYDEBASEMENT has been getting official sources on the fineness of many types of nickel coins worldwide. Read it here:
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2451

[Verbane]

Krause Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901-2000

KM# 926a.1 5 Francs
10.0000g Nickel Clad Copper-Nickel. 29mm. Obv: The seed sower Rev: Branches divide denomination and date Edge: Reeded
Dates 1970 to 2000



Is this the lot?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230724513341?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_500wt_1156

[Verbane]

I posted this link in "Linked Sales" thinking it looked like a good deal...
http://realcent.org/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=10822

Go get the [shucks-shucker]. I remember specifically mentioning French 5 francs when I listed this. I was hoping you would be selling part of this in the Coppercave for my purchasing enjoyment.... If I can help with anything else let me know.

[Verbane]

Sorry I'm perseverating on this...

Currencydebasement only lists these 5 Franc coins (1933-1939):

France 5 Francs 1933-1939 12g Ni ♦ $0.23304
France 5 Francs 1933 6g Ni ♦ $0.11652

[natsb88]

Yes, that is the lot. Fixed the link, sorry.

Thanks for the info. I'll post the results when I get done sorting.

[aloneibreak]

you pbly already know but check those venezuelan coins close as well

around 1988-1989, depending on the denomination, was when they switched to nickel clad steel -- ive had sellers mix those in on me too...

[natsb88]

you pbly already know but check those venezuelan coins close as well

around 1988-1989, depending on the denomination, was when they switched to nickel clad steel -- ive had sellers mix those in on me too...

I pulled out a few clad Venezuelan coins, a steel Canadian quarter, some non-nickel Netherlands coins (they're brass or bronze, the color isn't even close to nickel ), a US dime, a couple of aluminum coins, and some other foreign cupronickel. Running the Canadian nickels through the Ryedale now...

[natsb88]

1982+ Canadian nickels: 6.12 pounds
French 5 Franc coins: 1.72 pounds
Misc. foreign coins (cupronickel, aluminum, brass): 0.33 pounds

Total unpure/non-nickel: 8.17 pounds

[aloneibreak]

Total unpure/non-nickel: 8.17 pounds

@ 8.41/lb = $68.71

plus your time and hassle !

[TXBullion]

1982+ Canadian nickels: 6.12 pounds
French 5 Franc coins: 1.72 pounds
Misc. foreign coins (cupronickel, aluminum, brass): 0.33 pounds

Total unpure/non-nickel: 8.17 pounds

good thing you are a buyer on ebay. might not be ahead, but your not out

[currencydebasement]

I do have the regulation/legislation authorizing the 5 franc coin. It states that the exterior is "pure nickel" and the interior is "cupro-nickel." It does not give detailed metal specifications beyond that unfortunately. My estimate is that the nickel content is probably around ~30%.

[natsb88]

If the seller doesn't want to work with me, I'm sure eBay will take care of it. I'll let you know how it works out.

Even if I'm stuck with it, it was still a good deal. Round numbers of proper nickel:

26 pounds Canadian nickels (and a few dimes/quarters)
22 pounds French
4 pounds Dutch
2.5 pounds Venezuelan
0.5 pounds other foreign

[natsb88]

I do have the regulation/legislation authorizing the 5 franc coin. It states that the exterior is "pure nickel" and the interior is "cupro-nickel." It does not give detailed metal specifications beyond that unfortunately. My estimate is that the nickel content is probably around ~30%.

Thanks for the info!

[cupronickel]

Stick with the Canadian nickels. The rest just aren't worth the hassle.
Why don't you just stack US nickels. They're selling for below spot right now at your local bank.

[natsb88]

Stick with the Canadian nickels. The rest just aren't worth the hassle.
Why don't you just stack US nickels. They're selling for below spot right now at your local bank.

I sell them. French and Dutch nickel flies off the shelf at $16.50/lb. Canadian at $14.00+. US nickels at...well, can't ship them out of the country, and anybody in the country can buy them at face value with no sorting, so they wouldn't sell at all. Any they are .250 nickel instead of .999. If I want nickel, I want high purity, not 25%.

[natsb88]

Sending the non-nickle coins back, seller has offered to refund $70 + return postage.