Melting coins
 

Come the zombie apocalypse a handy source of metal for your knives and arrowheads might be the coins we have everywhere. Are they workable in an apocalypse setting?

You need to read the small novel.. "Earth Abides" In which indeed I cannot read of your answer to your question as it is in the last pages of the book.

Don't see why they wouldn't be? Though it is illegal to destroy, and damage tender.

But, in the event of an apocalypse I'd be inclined to punch holes in them and make chain mail armor.

I have read it, one of my early favourite books, whats his face with the hammer.

Thats why I asked, they seem pretty tough to cut and drill. They might have horrible melting temperatures or all come apart in the pot as it were.

Oh, then I have no idea. Havent tried putting holes in them. Surely it can't be too difficult, when compared to other metals?

I've never tried, but surely it'd be easier to just acquire regular knives & so-on for the zombie apocalypse?
And chainsaws, never forget chainsaws.
And watching Zombieland, it's very good.

Best to get a hard copy because when the apocalypse comes e-readers will be a little harder to use...

One of my favorite (video) bloggers commenting on the uselessness of US pennies...

I was just thinking about a war lords castle in an apocalyptic future, a nice freestanding office block should do it, too high and you could be be bothered trudging up to the top defensible bits. You could do lots of stuff with glass as well, there would be miles of the stuff.

great video.. but I can't help thinking that abolishing the penny will render the 'take a penny,leave a penny' tray useless....

Take a dime, leave a dime?

Great video!

Scrap steel is easier to come by, IMO.

Doesn't "Nickel" come before "Dime"?

And coins would be better used as projectiles...

>>Doesn't "Nickel" come before "Dime"?

Yes, well spotted!

Although the video did mention the half penny was dropped when its value was that of today's nickel... my brain must have jumped ahead to ditching them both :P

> Are they workable in an apocalypse setting?

Should be, given a solid enough smooth rock to cold work them with.

5, 10, 20 and 50 cent pieces are 75% copper, 25% nickel.
1 and 2 dollar coins are 92% copper, 6% aluminium and 2% nickel. from http://www2.abc.net.au/science/k2/st...pic102831.shtm

So should have a melting point not too different to bronze.

Does this mean Americans soon won't be able to spend a penny???
Sorry couldn't resisthttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo.../smile-new.png

I suspect the purchase price of most items is high enough that they would not have spent such a small amount in many years.

It will probably cost you about a kilogram of charcoal to cast a kilogram of coin.

What do they cast it in? Clay pots?