1972 Lincoln Cent Weighs 2.83 grams

Deobyte

I have a 1972 Lincoln Cent that is a little beat up but I don't believe it's a dryer coin or acid dipped. It's weighs 2.83 grams and I also performed the test where you dip it in water to weigh the mass. Could this be a foreign planchet? I haven't been able to find anything online for this specific year but there are some out there for other years. I believe this could be struck on Australia 5 cent since the measurements match. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

JBK

The Australian coin you mention is the same composition (and color) as our nickel. Your cent has the color of a normal US copper (bronze) cent.

Also, was our mint striking coins for Australia in the early 1970s?

Had you considered the possibility that your coin is simply underweight? It does happen on occasion, such as when strip is rolled a little thin.

Deobyte

I have tried to research foreign coins that match the weight and diameter of mine and it seems like there are many possibilities. I may have referenced the incorrect Australian coin when I posted earlier. I have researched if the mint was striking coins and to be honest I'm unsure based on what I've read. This is the closest thing I've found so far

https://coins.ha.com/itm/errors/1972-d-1c-lincoln-cent-struck-on-philippine-5s-planchet-ms63-brown-ngc-241-grams/a/60151-91154.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515

Oldhoopster

The US mint only struck coins for Australia between 1942-44 and those were silver

The weight specs on a copper us cent is 3.11 grams +/- 0.13 grams. Assuming your scale is calibrated and on a flat surface, you probably have a coin struck on a planchet from a strip that was rolled a little thin.

jmlanzaf

@Deobyte said:
I have tried to research foreign coins that match the weight and diameter of mine and it seems like there are many possibilities. I may have referenced the incorrect Australian coin when I posted earlier. I have researched if the mint was striking coins and to be honest I'm unsure based on what I've read. This is the closest thing I've found so far

https://coins.ha.com/itm/errors/1972-d-1c-lincoln-cent-struck-on-philippine-5s-planchet-ms63-brown-ngc-241-grams/a/60151-91154.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515

So, it's a double error: It's a U.S. cent struck on a Phillipine planchet which is 0.4 g too heavy?

All kidding aside. It looks acid-washed to me. Notice how the features aren't sharp on either side.

There's also a couple corrosion spots so it is quite possible that the coin was "cleaned up" using acid to remove surface corrosion.

291fifth

Nothing special. Just another corroded Lincoln Memorial cent that is a bit underweight.

CaptHenway

@Oldhoopster said:
The US mint only struck coins for Australia between 1942-44 and those were silver

The weight specs on a copper us cent is 3.11 grams +/- 0.13 grams. Assuming your scale is calibrated and on a flat surface, you probably have a coin struck on a planchet from a strip that was rolled a little thin.

I agree with this.

JBK

I could ask why you are weighing an otherwise normal looking cent, but that's your business.

If you are going to scrutinize every coin that closely, be prepared to find some anomolies.

Hydrant

Where did you find it?

jmlanzaf

@JBK said:
I could ask why you are weighing an otherwise normal looking cent, but that's your business.

If you are going to scrutinize every coin that closely, be prepared to find some anomolies.

If you don't weigh them all, how will you ever know?

Deobyte

@JBK said:
I could ask why you are weighing an otherwise normal looking cent, but that's your business.

If you are going to scrutinize every coin that closely, be prepared to find some anomolies.

I weigh every single coin...you never know what you'll find. I'm a beginner so the research is a learning experience for me either way. Thank you for your input!

Deobyte

@Hydrant said:
Where did you find it?

It was given to me in a bag with a bunch of other coins that my family didn't want.