Design and characterization of new Cu alloys to substitute Cu-25%Ni for coinage applications

► Material and manufacturing cost of coins exceeded the face value of coins over the last ten years. ► New cost-effective low Ni alloys with the similar conductivity and color tone as Cu-25% Ni are needed. ► Reduction of resistivity with low Ni was compensated by adding elements for high resistivity. ► Cu-Zn-Ni-Fe and Cu-Zn-Ni-Fe-Cr alloys were developed.