Home› U.S. Coin Forum
Options

Zink cent missing copper

PTVETTERPTVETTER Posts: 6,152 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

I came across a copper / zinc cent missing the copper coating. Is there ANY value to this???

Pat Vetter,Mercury Dime registry set,1938 Proof set registry,Pat & BJ Coins:724-325-7211


Comments

  • Options
    USSID18USSID18 Posts: 793 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Does it look like this?

  • Options
    FredWeinbergFredWeinberg Posts: 6,050 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The general rule that I always use:
    If it’s bright and shiny, it’s probably been plated
    If it’s dark, dull, and gray, it’s been deplated.

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
  • Options
    PTVETTERPTVETTER Posts: 6,152 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @USSID18 said:
    Does it look like this?

    @USSID18 said:
    Does it look like this?

    Looks just like that!

    Pat Vetter,Mercury Dime registry set,1938 Proof set registry,Pat & BJ Coins:724-325-7211


  • Options
    PTVETTERPTVETTER Posts: 6,152 ✭✭✭✭✭


    Pat Vetter,Mercury Dime registry set,1938 Proof set registry,Pat & BJ Coins:724-325-7211


  • Options
    vintagebanksvintagebanks Posts: 74 ✭✭✭

    @PTVETTER said:

    I would think it fits this statement from Fred to a tee
    "If it’s dark, dull, and gray, it’s been deplated."

  • Options
    AcarrollAcarroll Posts: 260 ✭✭✭✭

    @PTVETTER said:

    It might just be your pictures, but your coin looks dark dull and lifeless, if it had been struck without any copper plating it would show some mint luster.

  • Options
    johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 34,690 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @vintagebanks said:

    @PTVETTER said:

    I would think it fits this statement from Fred to a tee
    "If it’s dark, dull, and gray, it’s been deplated."

    To a tee 👍

  • Options
    PTVETTERPTVETTER Posts: 6,152 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Remember this cent circulated, so are circulated cent always sharp and shinny?

    Pat Vetter,Mercury Dime registry set,1938 Proof set registry,Pat & BJ Coins:724-325-7211


  • Options
    USSID18USSID18 Posts: 793 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @PTVETTER said:

    I like it! 👍 A nice circulated example!!

  • Options
    robecrobec Posts: 7,059 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Bought this in 1988 while it was still certified with ANACS photo grade.

    - Bob -

    MPL's - Lincolns of Colorimage
    Central Valley Roosevelts

  • Options
    messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,880 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @vintagebanks said:

    @PTVETTER said:

    I would think it fits this statement from Fred to a tee
    "If it’s dark, dull, and gray, it’s been deplated."

    The complication with applying that maxim here is that it's circulated.

    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • Options
    USSID18USSID18 Posts: 793 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @PTVETTER - It also looks like steel. Just for the heck of it, put a magnet on that puppy! Wouldn't that be something!?!??

  • Options
    jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 43,295 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @PTVETTER said:
    Remember this cent circulated, so are circulated cent always sharp and shinny?

    No. But the surface looks worked. While worn, it's still at least an XF coin. Do those surfaces look like what you'd expect on an XF coin?

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • Options
    MFeldMFeld Posts: 17,393 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @PTVETTER said:
    Remember this cent circulated, so are circulated cent always sharp and shinny?

    No. But the surface looks worked. While worn, it's still at least an XF coin. Do those surfaces look like what you'd expect on an XF coin?

    Do you see any reasonable possibility that the coin could be counterfeit?

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • Options
    jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 43,295 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:

    @jmlanzaf said:

    @PTVETTER said:
    Remember this cent circulated, so are circulated cent always sharp and shinny?

    No. But the surface looks worked. While worn, it's still at least an XF coin. Do those surfaces look like what you'd expect on an XF coin?

    Do you see any reasonable possibility that the coin could be counterfeit?

    It's possible. I haven't seen a lot of those other than 1944 that were counterfeited. It looks more to me like the copper was chemically stripped based on the surfaces. I'll be in the lab tomorrow and try and make one.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • Options
    hickoryridgehickoryridge Posts: 268 ✭✭✭

    @PTVETTER said:

    Lincoln looks (off)

  • Options
    SapyxSapyx Posts: 2,646 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Several people have noted "the coin is circulated" - which raises a problem for me. Lots of people must have handled the coin, for it to get "circulated" so much. How come not one of those people noticed that this coin was missing it's copper layer, if indeed it came out of the mint looking all shiny zinc?

    Ockham's Razor says that the reason nobody noticed is that it looked like a perfectly normal coin while it was being circulated. Either that, or the coin has been treated in some way and the same process which caused the "circulation wear" also caused the copper to disappear.

    For example: YouTube tells me that soaking a penny in a calcium hydroxide / elemental sulfur slurry will turn the copper into black copper oxide, but not react with the zinc; this oxide layer can then be buffed or polished away, leaving the metallic zinc core.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRiBYMv6Tz4

    Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.
    Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"

    Apparently I have been awarded the DPOTD twice. B)
  • Options
    jmlanzafjmlanzaf Posts: 43,295 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Sapyx said:
    Several people have noted "the coin is circulated" - which raises a problem for me. Lots of people must have handled the coin, for it to get "circulated" so much. How come not one of those people noticed that this coin was missing it's copper layer, if indeed it came out of the mint looking all shiny zinc?

    Ockham's Razor says that the reason nobody noticed is that it looked like a perfectly normal coin while it was being circulated. Either that, or the coin has been treated in some way and the same process which caused the "circulation wear" also caused the copper to disappear.

    For example: YouTube tells me that soaking a penny in a calcium hydroxide / elemental sulfur slurry will turn the copper into black copper oxide, but not react with the zinc; this oxide layer can then be buffed or polished away, leaving the metallic zinc core.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRiBYMv6Tz4

    Yes. Chemical stripping will also make it look as though it were circulated as it is very hard to strip just the copper.

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Format
SpoilerCodeQuote
Heading 2Heading 1
Emoji
:):D:(;):/:o:s:p:'(:|B):#:*<3o:)>:)
Url
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file
Home • U.S. Coin ForumComment As ...