Oman introduced nickel-plated steel coinage for several denominations in the mid-2000s as part of a broader regional shift away from cupronickel, driven largely by rising global nickel and copper commodity prices that made the older alloy increasingly expensive to strike. The magnetic property noted in the catalog reference distinguishes this issue from earlier cupronickel 50 Baisa pieces, which are superficially identical in appearance but fail the magnet test — a practical point for sorting mixed holdings.
Oman introduced nickel-plated steel coinage for several denominations in the mid-2000s as part of a broader regional shift away from cupronickel, driven largely by rising global nickel and copper commodity prices that made the older alloy increasingly expensive to strike. The magnetic property noted in the catalog reference distinguishes this issue from earlier cupronickel 50 Baisa pieces, which are superficially identical in appearance but fail the magnet test — a practical point for sorting mixed holdings.