Nickel silver, also known as German silver, Argentan, new silver, nickel brass, albata, alpacca, or electrum, is a copper alloy with nickel and often zinc. The usual formulation is 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc.Nickel silver is named for its silvery appearance, but it contains no elemental silver unless plated. The name "German silver" refers to its development by 19th century German metal workers in imitation of the Chinese alloy known as paktong, Nickel silver first became popular as a base metal for silver plated cutlery and other silverware, notably the electroplated wares called EPNS (electro-plated nickel silver). It is used in zippers, better quality keys,costume jewellery, for making musical instruments (example: cymbals, saxophones)and it is preferred for the track in electrically powered model railway layouts, as its oxide is conductive. It is widely used in the production of coins.