Question

The coinage metals are:
A. Iron, cobalt, nickel
B. Copper and zinc
C. Copper, silver and gold
D. Gold and platinum

Answer 1

Hint: The coinage metals comprise, at a minimum, those metallic chemical elements which have historically been used as components in alloys used to mint coins. However, since a number of metals have been used to make "demonstration coins" which have never been used to make monetized coins for any nation-state but could be.

Complete step by step answer:
Historically, most coinage metals (or alloys) are from the three nonradioactive members of group 11 of the periodic table: copper, silver, and gold, the copper usually being augmented with tin and often other metals to form bronze. Gold, silver, and bronze or copper were the coinage metals of the ancient world and post-medieval coins.
All western histories of coins begin invention at some time slightly before or after 700 BC, in Aegina Island or, according to others, in Ephesus, Lydia, 650 BC. Ancient India in circa 6th century BC was one of the earliest issuers of coins in the world.
Since that time, coins have been the most universal embodiment of money. These first coins were made of electrum, a naturally occurring pale yellow mixture of gold and silver that was further alloyed with silver and copper.
Copper, silver, and gold are the three metals that are used for making coins and are called coinage metals nowadays.

Hence the correct option will be C.

Note: Coins that are intended for circulation have some special requirements based on the conditions they will encounter. For example, a coin may be in circulation for up to 30 years, and so must have excellent wear resistance and anti-corrosion properties. Achieving this goal necessitates the use of base metal alloys. Some metals like manganese have occasionally been used in coins, but suffer from making the coins too hard to take an impression well.