Many French horns, for example, are made of nickel silver, an alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel (it's silver in name and color only), and some are made of nickel bronze, an alloy of copper, tin, and nickel. (Brass itself is an alloy of copper and zinc.) Many brass instruments are silver-plated (sterling silver on brass), and some are gold-plated.

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The coins are currently made from the nickel and copper alloy cupro-nickel.

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The use of maillechort, a tarnish-resistant, creamily beautiful but easily marred alloy of copper, zinc and nickel, sometimes also called "German silver, " for the plates and bridges is a case in point.

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The Treasury plans to make the new coins from nickel-plated steel instead of the alloy, which has become more expensive as the price of copper has risen in recent years.

BBC: Treasury 'should foot coin change bill'