Question about possible off metal coin.

JRocco

Came across this odd colored/ porous looking Lincoln. It felt light and had a much tinnier sound when dropped than a reg cent. I weighed the coin on a really accurate scale and it weighs in at 2.87 grams instead of the usual 3.11 grams. I will show some pics next to another Lincoln for color comparison. Any opinions or ideas? Is this just a corroded piece? It looks like there is enough detail left that the weight shouldn't be that off?

lordmarcovan

Hm. Looks like it could've been etched with acid, maybe? That might account for the grainy surfaces, the tinnier sound it makes, and the reduced weight?

JRocco

Any other opinions?

PerryHall

Looks corroded. May have been buried in acidic soil.

MAD4MORGANS

From the U.S. Treasury Website--->

<< <i>The composition of the coin was changed again in 1962. Mint officials felt that deletion of the tin content would have no adverse effect on the wearing qualities of the coin, whereas, the manufacturing advantages to be gained with the alloy stabilized at 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc would be of much benefit.

>>

Maybe spent some time at the beach?? Copper turns this color real quick neat salt water. May explain some of the graininess as well. The reduced weight from salt laden air and copper patina/tin "loss"??

astrorat

If it were an "off-metal" piece, basically a cent struck on a dime planchet (or potentially foreign planchet), it would be smaller in diameter. Your coin has full rims so unless the Denver Mint was striking foreign coins of the same diameter in 1952, it is probably not a mint product.

Looking at your piece it is fairly apparent that the surfaces are not original and thus it is the product of accidental or intentional damage.

Sorry . . .

Lane

JRocco

Thanks for the opinions guys. This coin is porous, especially the reverse, and it just caught my eye in a jar search because of the off color so I weighed it just to see. Thanks again.

ROBERTB

<< <i>Hm. Looks like it could've been etched with acid, maybe? That might account for the grainy surfaces, the tinnier sound it makes, and the reduced weight? >>



My first thought was acid also. I've seen pennies pulled from water fountains that of course are full of chlorine and other chemical that look like this one.

OffMetal

It's been damaged, sorry.

Ben

Coinosaurus

Wash a penny in vinegar and salt, let it sit, then measure the weight. I bet it will be similar to one you have!