Metals

Nickel silver

Most 19th and 20th century nickel silver objects will be found either as the unchanged copper-nickel-zinc alloy, or with a thin film of electro-deposited silver on the surface.

An easy way to identify nickel—as nickel plating or its presence in an alloy—is to look for the bright, lemon-green corrosion products which characterise nickel (II) compounds.

Australian coins minted before the introduction of decimal currency in 1966 contain significant amounts of silver. To remove tarnish from the imperial pre-1966 coins, follow the procedures for silver outlined above.

The corrosion products on Australian coins after the introduction of decimal currency are better treated according to the methods outlined below for copper as well as its alloys in the form of brass and bronze.

The treatment of electroplated nickel silver should follow the guidelines for silver objects.