Text: Malleability is not the same thing as softness. It just happens that pure gold is one of the most malleable metals, and is also rather soft. Lead, for example, is very soft, softer than pure gold, but lead is much less malleable than gold. If you had a coin made of lead of the same dimensions as a Canadian 1 oz. gold Maple Leaf, you would probably be able with some difficulty to bend it with your fingers. Not so with a pure gold Maple Leaf. Pure gold is not used for coins for general circulation because pure gold is too soft and the coins would wear too quickly. Even so, some governments (Canada, for example) have issued gold and silver bullion coins which are pure. They are intended to be stored, not carried around jingling in one's pocket. The gold Canadian Maple Leafs are sold loose, and the silver Maple Leafs are sold in heat-sealed flexible plastic carriers. Standard alloy for old British and European gold coins is 22/24 = .9167 fine. Old British Sovereigns or French Napoleons could circulate for as much as 100 years without wearing out, since they would change hands infrequently, much as $100 bills last longer than $1 bills. Heavily used gold and silver coins of standard alloys will last about 30 years in daily circulation. 100 or more years ago, British banks would discount gold sovereigns offered for deposit if they were excessively worn. The new cupronickel US dimes and quarters are very durable and will last 50 years in heavy circulation, as cupronickel is harder that the old silver alloy. The old US gold coins were .900 fine (.9167 before 1834). The new US gold bullion coins are .9167 fine, with 3% silver and the remainder copper. The addition of some silver makes the color more yellow and less red. US silver Eagles are 99.93% pure silver, the remainder copper.

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