The current circulating US dollar coin, also known as the Sacagawea golden dollar or golden dollar, is not made of pure gold. It features a three-layer clad construction with a pure copper inner core and an outer layer of manganese brass. This alloy is what gives it its golden color.
The composition of the manganese brass cladding consists of:
- 77% copper
- 12% zinc
- 7% manganese
- 4% nickel
Considering the pure copper core and the outer layers, the overall composition of the dollar coin is:
- 88.5% copper
- 6% zinc
- 3.5% manganese
- 2% nickel
Therefore, the dollar coin is primarily made of copper, with a significant portion of the outer layers composed of a manganese brass alloy, giving it its distinctive golden appearance.
Are dollar coins silver or gold?
From my experience, The dollar coin is a United States coin with a face value of one United States dollar. Dollar coins have been minted in the United States in gold, silver, and base metal versions.
How much gold is in a $1 coin?
Thanks for asking. The Type 1 $1 Gold Liberty has a diameter of 13 mm and a total weight of 1.672 grams; made of 0.900 gold, the coin is composed of 90 percent gold and 10 percent copper. It therefore contains . 04837 ounces of pure gold.