I wouldn't exactly call it a precious metal. Although it is sometimes known as German Silver or Nickel Silver there is actually no Silver content in it. It is an alloy of Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni) and Zinc (Zn) and I believe the composition of Virenium is 81%Cu, 9%Ni, 10%Zn although other varieties of this alloy will have slightly altered proportions and possibly some Manganese as well. I have some Copper-Nickel-Zinc coins in my collection and I must say they do have a richer, more silvery appearance than the standard Copper-Nickel - I guess that bit of Zinc makes all the difference.
Just because you can't see it ... doesn't mean it isn't there - Anon.
Virenium is a German Silver type of alloy containing nickel as well as copper and zinc with a magnetic element as a built in security device. It was first used by the Isle of Man. It has the composition 81% Cu, 10% Zn and 9% Ni.
It is an alloy mainly used for coins. It is a copper alloy plus Zinc and Nickel. The %'s are different from country to country.
In Portugal it was also used from 1927 to 1968 in coins of 50 Centavos and 1 Escudo, replacing older silver coins.
In this last case it was Cu= 61%; Zn=20% ; Ni= 19%.
For awhile it was used for services pieces in food service pieces . I have a very nice tea pot made from German silver. Well it is a coffee pot it is striate , were a tea pot round at the bottom. A lot of room service pieces were made of it in the 1930's to the 1950's. It is a bit harder then silver and holds up much better. I think it looks very nice , and wish I had more in my collection.
edit wear bite, grand silver co., nickel silver. I think I have the alloys mixed up. but that is what is hallmarked on my coffee pot. If wrong alloy it sure looks nice. So is nickel silver and German silver the same alloy? From what Rick said it is. What is the US war nickels with silver in them. Are they group in here , but with silver in them
