You all may want to look at this Lincoln. Need some help

malachi555

When I got back into collecting early last year, I gathered all of the odds and ends I had added to drawers over the last twenty years and this was among them. I have no idea what to make of it. Any help here would be appreciated. The coin weighs 2.9 grams which is less than the 3.11 grams which are specified for the copper issue. Now the 1943 steel pennies are supposed to weigh 2.7 grams. This coin falls in between these two specifications. I had a local dealer take a look at it, but I don't think he had a clue what to make of it, other than weighing it. Because of the detail of the coin, I am inclined to think it that it is not a repro (why would any one copy a 1941 Lincoln?) and that it represents one of two options. 1) it was minted in a non-copper metal. 2) It has been subjected to electroplating. What I can't figure out is if it was electroplated, why would it weigh less? Shouldn't it weigh more? Now if I recall my chemistry days from way back, I think that a replacement reaction can occur when a metal is subjected to current while submerged in an aqueous solution of another metal. If enough of the original metal was replaced with a lighter metal, then this would explain the overall lighter weight. Maybe some of the chemical engineers here can weigh in on this one.





Any thoughts?

tjkillian

My guess would be that it was reprocessed like other 1943 steel cents, it was just caught up in the batch.

I would attribute the lower weight to the slight wear it experienced while in circulation.

malachi555

<< <i>My guess would be that it was reprocessed like other 1943 steel cents, it was just caught up in the batch.

I would attribute the lower weight to the slight wear it experienced while in circulation. >>



Can you elaborate a bit more? What do you mean by reprocessing?

WaterSport

I agree, it’s a reprocessed cent. You can see the wear and the circulation nicks that have that filled in look, rather than those shaper edge nicks seen on a regular circulated coin.

Reprocessing was a common practice of dipping 1943 cents in a hot zinc coat bath as they tended to rust and thus make them new and shinny and “uncirculated” again. Probably one of the biggest “accepted” coin doctoring efforts of a given series.

WS

Steve27

I think I see a spot of copper poking through (it may have been dipped in zinc or plated with silver).

thebeav

Years ago, in a previous job, I had access to chrome plating equipment. You can't imagine how many 1944 (especially '44) Lincolns that I plated. Not to defraud, I didn't sell them, just to have fun.....
The point being, anyone can do this.

malachi555

<< <i>Years ago, in a previous job, I had access to chrome plating equipment. You can't imagine how many 1944 (especially '44) Lincolns that I plated. Not to defraud, I didn't sell them, just to have fun.....
The point being, anyone can do this. >>



Yes, I know that plating it easy with even a home science kit. But what about the weight? Why would it loose .2 grams during electroplating?

fastrudy

It would not lose weight during electroplating, and I don't think it would lose as much as .2 grams due to wear.
In other words, I don't know what it is.

LanLord

<< <i>It would not lose weight during electroplating, and I don't think it would lose as much as .2 grams due to wear. In other words, I don't know what it is. >>

I agree with fastrudy, a loss of about 7 or 8 percent would make a coin probably no better than AG or Good. I'm not saying this is the real thing, but I'm wondering if it's been magnet tested?

malachi555

<< <i>

<< <i>It would not lose weight during electroplating, and I don't think it would lose as much as .2 grams due to wear. In other words, I don't know what it is. >>

I agree with fastrudy, a loss of about 7 or 8 percent would make a coin probably no better than AG or Good. I'm not saying this is the real thing, but I'm wondering if it's been magnet tested? >>



Yes, the coin is magnetic. It stuck to a magnet through its 2x2 flip. What does that mean?

malachi555

<< <i>I think I see a spot of copper poking through (it may have been dipped in zinc or plated with silver).

>>



Actually, that brownish discoloration is on the surface of the coin, and looks more like a rust or stain. There is a gouge there, but even at 15x magnification throug a loupe it is difficult to tell the color of the material within it.

BlindedByEgo

You may want to contact Fre Weinberg and request his assistance.

JRocco

Do you notice anything odd about the rim on the obverse from 6 o'clock clockwise to about 1 o'clock?

mozeppa

what do you think you see John?

JRocco

<< <i>what do you think you see John? >>


Hi Mike.
Almost looks like 2 different metals, especially above the IN GOD WE TR
My first thoughts are a played with piece. It might be a lighting artifact, but I don't think so.
It would be great if the OP could look at that area with a 20X glass.
The reverse rim looks a little funky at 12 and 6 also.