Abstract: A process for the production of coin blanks suitable for minting into coins, includes providing metal coin core pieces of disc-like shape each having opposed faces from about 14 mm to about 40 mm in diameter and a face to face thickness of from about 0.5 mm to about 2.6 mm. A charge of core pieces is loaded into a non-conducting perforated container with a diameter of from about 15 cm to about 50 cm, the number of core pieces in the container being such that the core pieces occupy from about 1/4 to 1/2 of the container volume. The container is placed in an electroplating bath, and a metallic cladding is plated on the core pieces, while moving the container angularly about a horizontal axis, at a voltage of from about 6 volts to about 18 volts and a current density of from about 470 A/m.sup.2 to about 1400 A/m.sup.2 based on the exposed area of the charge, until a plating thickness of from about 0.03 mm to about 0.

Abstract: A process for producing ultrafine cobalt powder includes providing an aqueous solution of cobalt ammine carbonate, with the concentration of cobalt ions being in the range of from about 1 to about 20 grams per liter (gpl). The solution is heated to drive off ammonia and carbon dioxide and precipitate ultrafine cobalt oxide. The cobalt oxide precipitate is then separated from the solution and heated in a reducing atmosphere to reduce the cobalt oxide to ultrafine cobalt powder.