Lincoln Missing copper plating??? Weight added...

MASSU2 · August 16, 2011 11:07AM

My wife brought this home from work last night. Is this missing the copper plating? Real or altered???

LanLord · August 16, 2011 11:16AM

Very cool, I don't know what it would be worth, but it's a keeper!

MsMorrisine · August 16, 2011 11:24AM

is that a little bit of copper on the rim to the left of Lincoln's shoulder?

MASSU2 · August 16, 2011 11:30AM

<< is that a little bit of copper on the rim to the left of Lincoln's shoulder? >>

No, that is a reflection of light. The entire coin, including edges are all consistantly the same color. No copper color what so ever.

WoodenJefferson · August 16, 2011 11:33AM

The way the die lines are there, looks real enough in the images. Best thing would be to have it authenticated, then you know for sure. It's a gamble, but why not go for it, especially if you feel you have a missing copper jacket?

MASSU2 · August 16, 2011 11:47AM

If this is real, any estimates on it's worth?

WoodenJefferson · August 16, 2011 11:56AM

<< If this is real, any estimates on it's worth? >>

Fred Weinberg does post here....maybe give him a quick PM as a heads up, maybe he can give you a valuation and opinion.

MASSU2 · August 16, 2011 12:04PM

<< 

<< If this is real, any estimates on it's worth? >>

Fred Weinberg does post here....maybe give him a quick PM as a heads up, maybe he can give you a valuation and opinion. >>

Will do. What's Fred's username?

atarian · August 16, 2011 12:12PM

I question this from being legit for 1 reason.

Look at the first T in STATES. theres a funky thing going on with that is very consistant with what happens with copper plated cents when they are stuck and the copper peals (usually a start to the zinc breakdown. ). This is the only red flag I see. I like this I wonder if its also a coating above this copper jacket.

Shamika · August 16, 2011 12:29PM

My first impression is that this is one of those freshman chemistry experiments where you plate a copper penny in a solution of zinc sulfide with a current in it (or something like that).

WoodenJefferson · August 16, 2011 12:43PM

<< 

<< 

<< If this is real, any estimates on it's worth? >>

Fred Weinberg does post here....maybe give him a quick PM as a heads up, maybe he can give you a valuation and opinion. >>

Will do. What's Fred's username? >>

FredWeinberg

coinman420 · August 16, 2011 12:59PM

i think its been plated.

edit to add photo, here is one that i chrome plated.

coindeuce · August 16, 2011 1:19PM

Since the coin has the appearance of new, it should weigh 2.5 grams. If it weighs less, it is probably an unplated zincoln. If it weighs even 1/20 (.05) grams more than 2.5, than it most likely is a post mint alteration.
You will need a very precise scale to measure to hundredths of a gram though.

JRocco · August 16, 2011 1:26PM

Looking at that my gut says it has been plated.
Atarian has a keen eye in noticing what looks like the stretching damage often seen on the skin of a zincoln cent.
A close-up pic of the T in STATES would help a lot.

frnklnlvr · August 16, 2011 7:55PM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< If this is real, any estimates on it's worth? >>

Fred Weinberg does post here....maybe give him a quick PM as a heads up, maybe he can give you a valuation and opinion. >>

Will do. What's Fred's username? >>

FredWeinberg >>

I think FW keeps his PMs turned off. You should be able to contact him through his website.

Not sure whether it's plated or not.

MASSU2 · August 16, 2011 10:27PM

<< Looking at that my gut says it has been plated.
Atarian has a keen eye in noticing what looks like the stretching damage often seen on the skin of a zincoln cent.
A close-up pic of the T in STATES would help a lot. >>

I'll post a close up pic of "STATES" tonight when I get home.

relicsncoins · August 17, 2011 1:21AM

The color looks right for zinc. I like the die polish on the reverse.

silverpop · August 17, 2011 2:21AM

high doubt it is real

MsMorrisine · August 17, 2011 2:30AM

Is there any way to remove the copper plating without hurting the zinc core?

Tdec1000 · August 17, 2011 2:50AM

I vote real! I'd send it in!

Tdec1000 · August 17, 2011 2:55AM

<< Is there any way to remove the copper plating without hurting the zinc core? >>

I dont think so... The mercury dipped coins I have seen looked etched and funny looking.

robec · August 17, 2011 3:33AM

Looks real to me. The die polish lines would be all but nonexistent had the copper originally been there and removed.

drei3ree · August 17, 2011 3:55AM

I don't know if it's genuine, but it's really cool if it is! I HATE most errors because they're so difficult to recognize. The OP's is one that I'd buy--if I could afford it...

PerryHall · August 17, 2011 4:03AM

<< Is there any way to remove the copper plating without hurting the zinc core? >>

Wouldn't it be easier to just zinc plate over the copper of a regular MS Lincoln cent?

MsMorrisine · August 17, 2011 4:26AM

i guess so.

but I was just curious.

FredWeinberg · August 17, 2011 7:41AM

I am in Chicago/ANA

it's very hard to tell what it might be just from the scans ---

The general rule is:

If it's bright and shiny, it's been plated....

If it's dark, dull and grey, it's bee depleted...

Your coin is not deplated, but icant be certain is it's
Struck on an unplated planchette, or if it's been plated.

Viewing it o my iPad,and forced to make a guess, it looks
Like it's plated

But I'm just not 100% sure.

coinman420 · August 17, 2011 7:44AM

here is a zinc plated one.

MASSU2 · August 17, 2011 8:05AM

Here are close ups of "States" as Atarian requested.

Coins101 · August 17, 2011 8:22AM

When I was a kid, I use to nickel plate pennies all the time.

MASSU2 · August 18, 2011 10:53AM

I got it weighed today. It tips the scales at 2.50 grams. What do you make of that???

MsMorrisine · August 18, 2011 11:47AM

I'm new anyway, but

unsure.

2.5g is the weight of a standard cent.

it'd been clearer had it been 2.45 or 2.55.

coindeuce · August 18, 2011 1:01PM

The weight of the copper plating on an unaltered Zincoln as made would weigh on the order of .01-.05 grams. If you are using anything less than a laboratory analytical scale, there is no way you will be able to establish the exact weight of your coin. Very unlikely that any jewelry scale is accurate to .01 grams. Most if not all of them can only be accurate to .10 grams. Even if you take into account a Mint standard tolerance of +/- .02 grams, with the appearance of your coin there should be a variation of more than that on the light or heavy side of 2.50 grams.

PerryHall · August 18, 2011 6:51PM

<< I got it weighed today. It tips the scales at 2.50 grams. What do you make of that??? >>

Not relevant in this case since the plating contributes an insignificant amount to the weight and the manufacturing tolerances for the weight of cents is fairly loose. The fact that you got this coin in circulation leads me to believe it's probably real. If you bought this coin on eBay, I might be more of a skeptic.

MsMorrisine · August 18, 2011 10:49PM

I don't know about the circulation thing as support that it is real.

I've found a number of chrome plated Kennedy Half Dollars roll searching.

errormaven · August 19, 2011 12:59AM

This is not a genuine cent struck on an unplated planchet. It's a normal cent that was plated outside the Mint. Two bits of evidence tell us this is the case:

1. The surface of the coin is slightly lumpy. The lumpiness is almost certainly from underlying plating.

2. More tellingly, the peripheral letters on the reverse show "split-plating doubling". This can't exist without plating.

Lincoln Missing copper plating??? Weight added...

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