Nordic Gold may sound like a precious metal, but it contains no gold. It is a gold-coloured copper alloy that became especially well known through its use in modern coins. The name therefore refers to the material’s warm, gold-like colour, not to its composition.
At Mauquoy Token Company, we use Nordic Gold for high-quality custom-made jetons, tokens, medals and coins. The material combines a luxurious appearance with practical properties such as wear resistance, corrosion resistance and reliable recognition in mechanical and electronic coin validators.
Nordic Gold is a copper alloy consisting of 89% copper, 5% aluminium, 5% zinc and 1% tin. This composition is also referred to as Cu89Al5Zn5Sn1.
Although Nordic Gold visually resembles brass or gold, it is a distinct alloy. The combination offers the quality benefits of brass, while adding an extra level of security because Nordic Gold is produced exclusively for the coin industry and has a very specific electromagnetic signature and characteristic density.
The European Central Bank describes Nordic Gold as a unique alloy used for the 10, 20 and 50 cent coins. It is difficult to melt and is used exclusively by the coin industry. According to the ECB, the material, together with other machine-readable features, helps protect euro coins against counterfeiting.
Anyone looking to have a gold-coloured coin or token made is therefore choosing, with Nordic Gold, a material that is both visually attractive and technically reliable.
Nordic Gold was developed in the early 1990s for the Swedish coin industry. The Swedish Mint was looking for a gold-coloured material for the 10-krona coin that had to be attractive, durable, malleable, tarnish-resistant and hypoallergenic. It also had to be suitable for striking detailed designs.
The development is generally attributed to Mariann Sundberg, who was working at the Finnish metals company Outokumpu at the time. The material proved particularly suitable for coin production and was later also chosen for the 10, 20 and 50 euro cent coins, bringing the alloy widespread recognition throughout Europe.
Nordic Gold is not only interesting for circulation coins. It is also a strong choice for commercial and promotional applications. Examples include drink tokens, festival tokens, machine tokens for car washes or launderettes, commemorative medals, collector coins and premium corporate gifts.
At Mauquoy Token Company, customers often choose Nordic Gold when a token or coin needs a high-quality, gold-coloured appearance without the use of real gold. The material feels solid, retains its appearance for a long time and is suitable for detailed designs.
For use in machines, the consistency of the material composition is especially important. In combination with the right diameter, thickness, weight and edge finish, a Nordic Gold token can be made easily recognisable to coin validators and detection systems.
Nordic Gold is sometimes confused with brass, but it is not the same material. Brass mainly consists of copper and zinc. Nordic Gold also contains aluminium and tin. These additional elements give the material its specific colour, wear resistance and technical properties.
For simple applications, brass can be a good choice. For tokens, jetons or medals that require a more luxurious appearance, better colour stability and reliable detection, Nordic Gold is often more interesting.
That is why Nordic Gold is frequently chosen for personalised tokens, medals, collector coins and tokens that need to retain a professional appearance even after prolonged use.
Would you like to have gold-coloured coins, jetons or tokens made in Nordic Gold? Mauquoy Token Company guides you from design to production. We advise you on material choice, diameter, thickness, weight, edge finish, relief, personalisation and compatibility with coin validators.
Whether you need festival tokens, drink tokens, machine tokens, commemorative medals or exclusive collector’s items, Nordic Gold is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a gold-coloured product with a professional and durable finish.
Contact Mauquoy Token Company to have your custom Nordic Gold token or coin made.
No. Nordic Gold contains no gold. The name only refers to the gold-coloured appearance of the alloy.
Nordic Gold consists of 89% copper, 5% aluminium, 5% zinc and 1% tin. Its technical designation is Cu89Al5Zn5Sn1.
The 10, 20 and 50 euro cent coins are made from Nordic Gold.
No. Brass consists mainly of copper and zinc. Nordic Gold also contains aluminium and tin, which gives it different properties.
Yes, Nordic Gold can be suitable for machine tokens. Final recognition depends on the combination of material, diameter, thickness, weight and edge finish.
Yes. Mauquoy Token Company produces custom-made Nordic Gold jetons, tokens, medals and coins for businesses, events, machines and collector applications.