Singapore cent 1986-1991

[Harald]

It appears to me that the metal composition of the Singapore cent 1986-1991 (KM-49/49b) is not clear.
According to SCWC it is bronze (1986-1990) and copper-clad zinc (1991). According to the website of
the monetary authority there is only a copper-clad zinc issue.

I myself have a 1986 in bronze (in the mintset) and a 1986 in copper-clad zinc (ordinary), but no later dates.
Does anyone have a date 1987-1990 in bronze? there is a weight difference: bronze 1.54g, copper-clad zinc: 1.24g.

maybe the bronze cents were only used in mintsets or even only in the 1986 set.


cheers
--
Harald

[Figleaf]

Is the copper-clad coin magnetic? If not, how do you determine the difference?

Peter

[andyg]

It appears to me that the metal composition of the Singapore cent 1986-1991 (KM-49/49b) is not clear.
According to SCWC it is bronze (1986-1990) and copper-clad zinc (1991). According to the website of
the monetary authority there is only a copper-clad zinc issue.

I myself have a 1986 in bronze (in the mintset) and a 1986 in copper-clad zinc (ordinary), but no later dates.
Does anyone have a date 1987-1990 in bronze? there is a weight difference: bronze 1.54g, copper-clad zinc: 1.24g.

maybe the bronze cents were only used in mintsets or even only in the 1986 set.


cheers
--
Harald

I wasn't aware of any bronze pieces of this type, thought they were all clad zinc.
Will check the next coins I come across...

[Harald]

Is the copper-clad coin magnetic? If not, how do you determine the difference?

Peter

they are not magnetic, but the weight is different.

[Afrasi]

Very Interesting!!!

I found in my collection:

86 1.31 g
86 1.55 g
87 1.55 g
89 1.27 g
90 1.27 g
91 1.27 g
92 1.29 g
92 1.31 g

The two pieces 86 and 87 weighing 1.55 g have a dark toning like proof coins often have. It seems that the heavier pieces come from the mint sets.

[andyg]

As far as I know, 1987 and 1988 1 cent can only be found in Mint sets.
They certainly never turn up otherwise.

For completeness I think the following coins from Singapore are in mint sets only,
1c 1987-88, 1996-99, 2002-07
5c 1991-92, 1994, 1996, 1998-99, 2002, 2006-07
10c 1992, 1994-2002, 2004, 2006-07
20c 1992, 1994-95, 1998-2005
50c 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998-2004, 2006
1$ 1991-93, 1996, 1998-2005, 2007

[Afrasi]

I never bought any mint set! But from these coins I possess the following:
1s 86 87 5s 91 92 10s 92 20s 92 50s 92 1$ 91 92
But it's possible, that I got coins from sets without knowing. All those pieces have indeed a bright appearance like set coins ...

[andyg]

whoops, 1986 1c was issued (in large quantities), that should be 1987-88.

I've never found a definitive source for the above, it's conjecture based on coins found in dealers junk lots.
Afrasi I think you have at least a 1992 mint set without knowing!

[Afrasi]

Afrasi I think you have at least a 1992 mint set without knowing!

Yes, you are right! I am sure now, because I found the 5-$-piece of 1992, too, in my collection, which clearly occures only in sets.
So there are only three remaining: 1s 87, 5s 91 and 1$ 91

[Afrasi]

According to Steven Tan's Standard Catalogue of Malaysia - Singapore - Brunei, 18th ed, 2007 - 2009 there exist the following coins (1985 - 2007) as circulating strikes:
1s 86 89 90 92-95 98-02
5s 85-90 93 95 97-05
10s 85-05
20s 85-91 93-04 06
50s 85-91 93 95-05 07
1$ 87-90 94-95 97-04 06

[Harald]

seems it's still fair to assume that for mint sets the cents are in bronze (1.54g), while the ordinary circulation issues are copper-clad zinc (1.24g).
does anyone have a mint set from after 1992. maybe also after the change in the coat of arms there are two metals used.

--
Harald