Anyone know the value of a 1963 steel? penny...

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SunnySiestaSal
SunnySiestaSal Posts: 4
in U.S. Coin Forum
Hi, my daughter found a 1963 penny which appears to be steel or silver. We're not really coin collectors and were wondering about its value. There's no mint mark below the date. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks much.

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  • klorineforbrains
    klorineforbrains Posts: 212
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    why all italices? The cent is probably plated. Not worth much. Sorry.
  • mozeppa
    mozeppa Posts: 4,431 ✭✭✭
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    welcome newby!

    its probably plated....on rare occasion they were struck on a dime planchet...(very rare...and valueable!)
  • BowTieCoins2
    BowTieCoins2 Posts: 637
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    image
    Can you put a pic up?
  • DorkGirl
    DorkGirl Posts: 9,994 ✭✭✭
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    image
    Becky
  • TUMUSS
    TUMUSS Posts: 2,207 ✭
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    image
  • wam98
    wam98 Posts: 2,685 ✭
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    image
    Wayne
    ******
  • morgannut2
    morgannut2 Posts: 4,293 ✭
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    Welcome! Steel is magnetic.image
    morgannut2
  • nankraut
    nankraut Posts: 4,565 ✭✭✭
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    Welcome to the forum. Regarding your penny, It's possible that it wasn't copper plated before striking, as it was supposed to be. Since 1982, the cent core is zinc, you know, which is a "steel" color. A picture would really help.

    Edited: whoops! I didn't read your message closely enough; you say it's a 1963; so disregard my comments.
    I'm the Proud recipient of a genuine "you suck" award dated 1/24/05. I was accepted into the "Circle of Trust" on 3/9/09.
  • ms70
    ms70 Posts: 13,958 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It may have been plated with something such as mercury. It was apparently a common school science project back then.

  • SunnySiestaSal
    SunnySiestaSal Posts: 4
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    Hope this scanned photo goes through... we checked and the penny is not magnetic nor is it the same size as a dime, so I guess that it's just one that never received its coating.
  • Tootawl
    Tootawl Posts: 5,877 ✭✭✭
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    Here ya go:

    image
    PCGS Currency: HOF 2013, Best Low Ball Set 2009-2014, 2016, 2018. Appreciation Award 2015, Best Showcase 2018, Numerous others.
  • SunnySiestaSal
    SunnySiestaSal Posts: 4
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    Thanks!
  • astrorat
    astrorat Posts: 9,221 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Is that a cent "cleaned" with mercury? It's been a long time since I have seen one . . .

    Lane
    Numismatist Ordinaire
    See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
  • SunnySiestaSal
    SunnySiestaSal Posts: 4
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    Could be... never knew that mercury was used in that manner. Do you know why this was done? Just curious...
  • klorineforbrains
    klorineforbrains Posts: 212
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    << <i>It may have been plated with something such as mercury. It was apparently a common school science project back then. >>

  • nwcs
    nwcs Posts: 13,386 ✭✭✭
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    Definitely a post mint alteration. The mint didn't start releasing copper plated zinc cents to circulation until 1982. The mercury dipping was a common science experiment, though we didn't do that when I was growing up. But I think my brother did.
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  • Shamika
    Shamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭
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    Actually, the coin appears to be nickel plated. It's a common experiment in freshman chemistry classes around the country.

    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • Jdurg
    Jdurg Posts: 997 ✭
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    In my junior year chemistry class in high school we heated a copper penny in a solution of powdered zinc and concentrated sodium hydroxide. The results was a silver/steel colored penny. We would then heat the penny in a strong flame and it would turn brassy in color and look like gold. Chances are, it's a penny plated in zinc or some other dirt cheap metal like tin. If it is a mercury dipped penny, then I would strongly advise against touching it too much as mercury is a nasty little element. If you heat the penny and you see little drips starting to come off of it, then it was mercury dipped.
    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.
  • Nancy
    Nancy Posts: 1 ✭
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    I have a 1963 penny that’s silver in color and shiny. Is it more than likely the result of a science project? Also would the weight of the coin say anything about what it’s made of? It looks like copper may be underneath from the way a small spot on the rim looks but I can’t be for certain . Can anyone tell me anything about this coin? I would appreciate it
    Thank you, Nancy

  • JBK
    JBK Posts: 17,862 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Nancy said:
    I have a 1963 penny that’s silver in color and shiny. Is it more than likely the result of a science project? Also would the weight of the coin say anything about what it’s made of? It looks like copper may be underneath from the way a small spot on the rim looks but I can’t be for certain . Can anyone tell me anything about this coin? I would appreciate it
    Thank you, Nancy

    Hello.

    You should ideally start a new thread rather than resurrect a 16 year old one. But in any case it shows you were trying to do your research.

    Your coin is almost certainly plated but pictures and weight would help confirm.

  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Nancy...Welcome aboard. Your cent is likely plated with mercury, or other element - even silver plating. Pictures would be good... but also weigh the coin and let us know. Cheers, RickO

  • MsMorrisine
    MsMorrisine Posts: 40,041 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Need pictures

    Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
  • gumby1234
    gumby1234 Posts: 5,901 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Plated most likely. Weight would still be within tolerance so that wouldn't help. Pictures would.

    Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM

  • Jdavis1102
    Jdavis1102 Posts: 1 ✭
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    Anyone know the value of a 1963 steel penny? It is steel as it is able to be picked up with a magnet.

  • coinbuf
    coinbuf Posts: 12,567 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 27, 2023 6:14PM
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    @Jdavis1102 said:
    Anyone know the value of a 1963 steel penny? It is steel as it is able to be picked up with a magnet.

    Unfortunately you do not have a steel cent. As was the case with all the previous coins in this thread, your coin has been plated, coins with a nickel plating will react to a magnet.

    My Lincoln Registry
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  • Fraz
    Fraz Posts: 2,118 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I made those with the mercury from a Nu-Grape thermometer.

  • CoinHoarder
    CoinHoarder Posts: 2,735 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Jdavis1102 said:
    Anyone know the value of a 1963 steel penny? It is steel as it is able to be picked up with a magnet.

  • MrBluster
    MrBluster Posts: 380 ✭✭✭
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    @astrorat said:
    Is that a cent "cleaned" with mercury? It's been a long time since I have seen one . . .

    Lane

    That’s what I thought.

  • Che_Grapes
    Che_Grapes Posts: 1,890 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Does it look like this?
    Could be worth millions….!!!

    Who cares about the details - never let those “pesky facts” get in the way of a good story, my friend!

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