Colour-coated Aluminium Is Used To Make Commemorative Coins

What materials are most commemorative coins made of ?

Commemorative coins come in a variety of materials, depending on their issuing authority, functional purpose (circulation/collection), value attributes, and cost budget. However, globally speaking, the following materials are the most common:

Gold: Used to make high-value commemorative

1. Precious metals (high-end collectible commemorative coins)

 coins such as zodiac gold coins and commemorative gold coins for major events

Silver: Commonly used in themed commemorative coins such as Olympic Games and cultural heritage series, with some employing ‘gold-plated silver’工艺

2. Common metal materials (circulation/mass commemorative coins)

Copper Alloy: Can mimic the appearance of precious metals like gold and silver, suitable for mass-market commemorative coins (e.g., zodiac commemorative badges, anniversary commemorative coins), offering both texture and corrosion resistance

Iron Alloy: The lowest-cost material, primarily used for mass-produced low-cost commemorative coins (e.g., exhibition gifts, event souvenirs)

Aluminium alloy: lightweight material (e.g. colour-coated aluminium, aluminium-magnesium alloy), suitable for portable commemorative coins (e.g. badge-style commemorative coins), and can achieve rich colours through coating, often used for cultural and creative, campus, and sports-themed commemorative coins.

What are the core advantages of colour-coated aluminium for commemorative coins?

1. Lightweight and portable

Colour-coated aluminium has a density of only 2.7 g/cm³, far lower than copper (8.9 g/cm³) and silver (10.5 g/cm³), resulting in lighter commemorative coins that are suitable for bulk carrying, mailing, or wearing (e.g., badge-style commemorative coins).

2. High colour richness

The coating on colour-coated aluminium can be customised to any Pantone colour code, accurately reproducing the pattern details of the commemorative theme (such as logos, portraits, and scene colours). Compared to traditional single-colour electroplating (gold, silver, nickel) on metal commemorative coins, it offers stronger visual appeal, making it particularly suitable for cultural and creative, sports events, and school anniversary commemorative themes.

3. Controllable costs

Colour-coated aluminium raw materials are cheaper than precious metals like copper and silver, and the coating process is well-established, making it suitable for small to medium-sized custom orders (e.g. thousands to tens of thousands of pieces), lowering the barrier to entry for commemorative coin production.

Core processes and technical points of colour-coated aluminium commemorative coins

Base material selection and pre-treatment

Aluminium alloy types: Preferably 1060, 3003, etc., as these alloys have good ductility and are easy to stamp into shape, making them suitable for coin relief processing.

Base Material Selection

Typically, colour-coated aluminium coils with a thickness of 0.3–1 mm are selected. Prioritise models with strong coating adhesion (e.g., polyester coating) and scratch resistance to prevent pattern wear over time.

Pattern Formation Methods

Stamping/Moulding: Suitable for simple geometric patterns or relief effects. Ensure the coating does not peel off during stamping (pre-test coating flexibility).

Laser Engraving: Precisely engraves intricate patterns (e.g., text, lines), revealing the aluminium substrate's natural colour after engraving to create a ‘coloured background + metallic pattern’ contrast effect.

Secondary Printing: Applies UV ink over the coloured aluminium surface to enhance pattern depth, but must ensure compatibility with the original coating (non-soluble, non-peeling).