Thread: Silver 2003 Penny?

Im sure its not silver,but ive never seen anything like it

It's probably plated. We need pictures to determine, though.

Probably plated. But, without a pic I'm only guessing.

A nice clear picture would provide all the information required for determining what you have.

Welcome to Coin Talk!

Thank you. Next question, what is the best way to take pics of coins,I have decent digital camera but i cant get clear pics

Originally Posted by sepro72

Thank you. Next question, what is the best way to take pics of coins,I have decent digital camera but i cant get clear pics

If your settings has a flower looking icon to choose from, this is a macro setting to take pictures close up that will likely provide more details, etc. If not, just take the picture as close as you can that is focused and then just crop the image down to just the coin, etc.

we like to see it

Thank you, I will try that. Im new to this and I appreciate the help!

Im not sure but I think the pic I was trying to post ended up as my profile pic LOL

Originally Posted by sepro72

Im not sure but I think the pic I was trying to post ended up as my profile pic LOL

Actually, it didn't end up anywhere. Please see this thread on how to upload pics: How To Post (upload) Photos

The possible scenarios for your coin:
- plated.
- copper layer removed from simple experiment.
- truly a mint error, and missing the copper layer.

Originally Posted by sepro72

Thank you. Next question, what is the best way to take pics of coins,I have decent digital camera but i cant get clear pics

I have a cheap aiptek camera/video recorder. It has a macro setting but it's useless. I've found that my 10x loupe fits over the lens on the camera (using tape to hold it on) and helps the macro. You just have to zoom in a little and adjust the distance between the camera and the coin.

Another way to do it (although people here appear to dislike it) is to scan it in at high resolution.

The possible scenarios for your coin:
- plated.
- copper layer removed from simple experiment.
- truly a mint error, and missing the copper layer.

-struck on a dime planchet

Most likely by a wide margin is plated. Next most likely is copper plating removed. These usually have a rough texture and a dead gray color. Next is the genuine nonplated cents. These will typically show good cartwheel luster. Least likely is struck on a dime planchet. These will show the "sandwich" layers on the edge that a regular dime does.

Or it could be struck on a silver dime planchet. Wouldn't that be awesome?

If it were struck on a silver dime planchet, something truly fishy would be going on at the mint.

high school chemistry teachers use pennies to teach how to zinc plate. I have ran into a couple of them in the past also.