Copper Country Bi-Metal Bullion

Description

A Unique Copper and Silver Bullion Coin This special copper and silver bullion coin honors the famous Quincy Mine in Hancock, Michigan, located on the scenic Keweenaw Peninsula. The original coin was minted from a massive blank weighing 36 grams of pure .997 copper. This special edition coin has been fitted with a center plug of 1.7 grams of sterling silver, containing 1/20 of a troy ounce of fine silver. Michigan's Copper Country is unique in that most of the copper found is the pure copper metal, rather than copper oxides or sulfides found in most other copper mining districts. This bullion coin represents halfbreed ore, in which a sample of pure silver and pure copper are found in the same rock. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is one of the only places this ore is found. On the coin obverse is a high relief image of a miner with pick, oil lamp, and pipe. The reverse side depicts the still-standing Quincy #2 shaft-house, a National Historic Site, viewed from the south. Each bi-metal coin has special "railroad rims" that have been knurled onto the coins one at a time. This coin was first made in 2006 and is historically significant in the bullion trade as it was the first ever use of troy ounces as the weight designation of copper bullion. The use of the troy ounce in denominating the weight of copper was intended as an offhand joke, as troy ounces are generally used only in reference to precious metals. Even though it was a joke, it has now, years later, become commonplace for copper bars and rounds to be designated in troy ounces. This is a fine piece of mining-related exonumia, a great addition to any collection of Upper Peninsula minerals or artifacts, and a historically significant bullion piece. Design by Tom Maringer, engraving by Gary Carlisle and Stan Pearson. Learn more about our artists.