Bi-Metallic coins of Silver & Niobium.

[elheron-grande]

28 Oct 2017 -  Probably most current contributors to the Coin & Paper Money chatting bjord know that Heron's coin interests are mostly of coins minted prior to 1870, mas o menos.   

Today, whilst searching for an Oesterreicher coin dated 1666 Heron's search page listed a modern coin of Austria minted of Silver & Niobium.   Because Heron is mostly an electrical technician and not a metals esspert, Heron had not heard of a metal named Niobium.  

After some further research, Heron discovered that the Austrian coin issue is a bi-metallic coin of Silver outer ring and Niobium inner ring.  

At this time, Niobium sells for about US$5.14 per ounce, + or -

Is there any particular reason a coin would be made with Silver & Niobium?

Is this just another 'gimmick' type coin issue?

No, Heron is not gonna rush right out and purchase one.  Probably never purchase one.  Heron has curiosity.

Regardos.  

[agathetyche · Accepted solution]

In 1931 the Chinese province of Kweichow struck a 10 cent coin in antimony. But nowadays countries are making coin in odd metals to pique collector's interest. Niobium, vanadium, tungsten and others. If you get a copy of Krause Unusual World Coins they list a lot of them, although many of the coins are from countries not found on any map. 

No one has struck coins in plutonium yet, but if there is a market for them...