(C) Vin Callcut 2002-2008 Small extracts can be used
with acknowledgements to 'Oldcopper.org website'
This Coronation
Crown money box was made to celebrate the 1937 coronation of King George
VI . Both components are made of brass plated zinc, shown by the
white metal showing through where the plating has worn.
This miniature
candlestick is also brass-plated zinc alloy diecasting. For a cheap
souvenir it has far more close detail than could easily be obtained in
brass but feels lighter in weight.
The underside shows
a detailed 'Gunga Din' manufacturer's mark in raised lettering with a high definition
that is easiest to achieve by diecasting in zinc. Moorgate
(Birmingham)
Heart shaped souvenir of
the copper mine at Bingham Canyon in Utah. This is the world's largest
man-made excavation, being more than 4km ( 2 1/2 miles) across at the top,
1km (3/4 mile) deep and covering 800 hectares (1,900 acres). Bingham Canyon
ore has yielded more than 15 million tons of copper but this souvenir is
made of copper plated zinc.
Any of these might make a monkey out of the brass
buyer. The one on the right is copper plated plastic, the others are
plated zinc diecastings. They are lighter in weight than comparable brass
castings and a scratch test on the underside shows white metal.
