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Odd 1954-D Lincoln Cent - Dipped in Mercury or something else?

WindycityWindycity Posts: 3,523 ✭✭✭✭✭

So this coin has a silver appearance and weighs 3.6 grams - has damage (dents) both obverse and reverse. Assume all is post mint damage but looking for confirmation.




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Comments

  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,231 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It looks kinda cool FWIW

  • coinbufcoinbuf Posts: 11,370 ✭✭✭✭✭

    From your weight and the look I would say it has been plated not dipped in mercury. From the photos this all looks to be PMD.

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  • CameonutCameonut Posts: 7,297 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'll take the first shot. Tough to be certain by the photos.
    To me, it looks like it might be plated. The rim dings are where the coin would contact a rack.
    The type of plating could be several things, but the very white color suggests to me that it might be chrome plated. Chrome is generally never plated using a barrel - only racks.
    Could also be nickel, but that generally has a slightly yellow cast to it.
    Zinc is also possible, same with tin and silver.

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  • FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 5,840 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Heavily plated

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
  • TurtleCatTurtleCat Posts: 4,607 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It has a chromium look to me.

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Definitely plated. When I was in the Printed Circuit industry, employees were always plating coins in the various metals baths (lead, copper, nickel, silver, gold) even though it was not allowed. Usually the night shift guys. Would occasionally find a coin at the bottom of the gold tank, dropped and not recovered. Cheers, RickO

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,249 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Back in the 1950's and 60's there was a company that sold charm bracelets with coins on them. One of their popular models offered a coin with each of a mother's children's birth years. Because normal cents tarnish, they plated everything to give them a uniform color. THis looks like one of them.

    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.

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