There are about 25 real '43 copper cents and thousands of fakes of dozens of types. Unless you have some interest in coins it's probably not worth your effort to travel to have the coin authenticated. You might try showing it to a local dealer and ask him to tell you how he knows it's not real. While there is little danger of having the dealer steal it, just ask him not to leave your presence with it.
With luck it will turn out to be real, but unless you personally removed it from circulation before 1950 there is very little chance of it.
<< <i>That "nice looking one" is reprocessed...worth one cent. >>
That's what I figured. It was the only 'nice looking' one amongst the roll of rusted cents it was originally in. I still like it because it looks good.
I collect the elements on the periodic table, and some coins. I have a complete Roosevelt set, and am putting together a set of coins from 1880.
I think he means 'cleaned', as in any rust and toning was cleaned off with a polishing compound of some sort. That would be very likely since this one penny came out of a roll of 1943 steel cents that were pretty much all rusted and corroded in one way or another. This one just happened to be bright and shiny throughout.
I collect the elements on the periodic table, and some coins. I have a complete Roosevelt set, and am putting together a set of coins from 1880.
Sorta like that Jdurg........ Mediocre steel cents get a light muriatic acid bath, to remove the rust. Then they take a little tumble to polish them up. Then they're re-plated, sometimes chrome, sometimes zinc......Produces a shiny and 'pretty' looking coin like yours.....
Yeah. I knew when I took it from the roll that it was 'too good to be true'. But I still liked how it looked and could appreciate it for what it was, so it found its way into my hoard of coins. I guess I'm one of those few collectors who really doesn't mind if a coin I get is cleaned or polished, as long as I'm not paying as though it never was. To me they're kind of interesting because it lets me see how it may have looked coming from the mint. (Without having to pay the price that an actual uncirculated one would cost). So a lot of times when I get coins out of circulation that have apparently been cleaned or polished it really doesn't bug me all too much. (And sadly, those are the only coins I seem to find in circulation. lol). This is where I'm happy to have a collection for my own personal gains rather than a potential financial gain.
I collect the elements on the periodic table, and some coins. I have a complete Roosevelt set, and am putting together a set of coins from 1880.
Comments
There are about 25 real '43 copper cents and thousands of fakes of dozens of types.
Unless you have some interest in coins it's probably not worth your effort to travel to
have the coin authenticated. You might try showing it to a local dealer and ask him to
tell you how he knows it's not real. While there is little danger of having the dealer
steal it, just ask him not to leave your presence with it.
With luck it will turn out to be real, but unless you personally removed it from circulation
before 1950 there is very little chance of it.
come up with an origonal copper 1943. Good luck and let
us all know the outcome.
Camelot
at one time i was putting them aside to check them but as usual they found their way into the jar anyways....
nice job on helping that fellow out..
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<< <i>That "nice looking one" is reprocessed...worth one cent. >>
That's what I figured.
You can call me an idiot if ya like.
Chris
<< <i>What do you mean by Reprocessed?
You can call me an idiot if ya like.
Chris >>
I think he means 'cleaned', as in any rust and toning was cleaned off with a polishing compound of some sort. That would be very likely since this one penny came out of a roll of 1943 steel cents that were pretty much all rusted and corroded in one way or another. This one just happened to be bright and shiny throughout.
I agree, it looks reprocessed.
Mediocre steel cents get a light muriatic acid bath, to remove the rust. Then they take a little tumble to polish them up. Then they're re-plated, sometimes chrome, sometimes zinc......Produces a shiny and 'pretty' looking coin like yours.....
Paul
Chris