ALUMINUM PENNY 1974 vs. NON-COPPER PENNY 1972-Denver Mint

Instead of plating maybe it is one giant milk spot...from being in the magical milk carton for years.

 

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What about the "expert" who has owned the coin shop for 25 plus years....he verified that it is a U.S. cent, and not plated.

 

Real funny. The carton is not magical yet, but it might be....

 

I have trouble listening to all the negative answers...however, I am a realist. I know it might be nothing more than a penny. To tell you the truth, if not for the color, so vibrant, so different, I would not be spending so much time on this. I am so curious...you will never know the anticipation. Could be good, could be bad.
One thing I do not regret, my new love for looking at coins. They are art to me, and I am glad that my eyes have been opened to a great hobby.

 

It is not 'negative' answers---it is just being realistic.

I will try and keep it simple
1) The weight INDEED shows it is plating (or toning). A coin made from a different metal or struck on a different planchet should show a substantially different weigh. This coin does not. That fact this coins weighs exactly as it should puts the odds of it being ANYTHING different than some plating or toning (Most likely the latter) is about 0.00001%.

I mean come on here people. It weights 3.11 grams and we are seriously considering if it is a 1972 penny struck on the wrong planchet?? Can we stop? The OP has been upfront and honest and seemingly just wants a REAL answer so we can we stop the 'there is hope' game?

If the coin had weighed 2.4 grams or 3.75 grams then we could be talking something (Still proves nothing but at least leads credence to the idea the coin is something special).


2) This 'coin dealer' means NOTHING. I can give you the name of 2 very prominent coin shops in my state of Indiana who are complete fools when it comes to collector coins. I had to tell one the 1799 dollar they had in their showcase was fake (It was just a bad one I could tell just from seeing it).

It means jack that some local dealer who has spent 25 years buying silver and gold and flipping it to refineries says "Oh this coin is rare". He would have no idea.

 

Thank you for your help.

 

Ok, if it makes you happy, I will not have any hope for a rare coin.

 

"Well, it weighs the weight of a penny...3.11. The coin store weighed it...and verified it is a true penny. It is magnetic. The diameter seemed to be the same as a penny, however, the rim was wider. When I placed 3 of them side by side, and looking at them from the side, the one we have is thicker."

You got your answer RIGHT here. Should of stopped. Nothing more to discuss. A clear case of a plated OR toned coin. Nothing special at all. It is really not even up for debate---the question has already been answered. If you sent it to PCSG and insured it you should call them and ask for the return shipment to carry little or no insurance---as you have a coin worth about 1.5 cents. There is nothing of value to insure.

It is spilled milk at this point but in the future never pay that much money for a coin grading without finding actual collectors to see if you should.

 

"Ok, if it makes you happy, I will not have any hope for a rare coin."

What? Happy? I would of loved for this to of been real. I would of liked the other 500 (I am being conservative) I have been presented with a plated or toned coin somebody thought might be rare WAS indeed something special.

I am not 'happy' your coin was nothing special. If anything I'm a little angry. Angry that this schmuck 'coin dealer' did not tell you the truth so you did not waste your time and money.

 

I went on this site, prior to sending, and asked what to do. I even posted the coin. Now, after being told, we can't help, send it in for grading....I took everyone's advice. I sent it in. Please don't be so hard on people. All I wanted to do was find out why my husband's penny was pewter/silver in color. Gee, you guys can be so tough. I am just a mom who would like answers.

 

A) He verified it is a U.S cent--that was obvious and not even questioned
B) I have almost zero faith in a local coin shop guy to determine if a coin is plated or not.
C) If it not plated it means the coin is just toned. Coins tone colors all the time.

 

You seem 100 percent positive it is nothing...are you an employee at the grading company? Come on, it must be "something." Maybe worth a penny, at this point, I am just going to wait and see.

 

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That cent was that color in the early 70's...how could toning happen?

 

It is not up for debate. It is 100% nothing. I am sorry but I am being blunt as to end the 'there is hope'. There is none. 100% . Any even semi-seasoned collector should tell you this. There is no debate or discussion---it is nothing. You weighed the coin and it weighed spot on.......that means it is nothing.

I tried to be nice but honestly the dealer is either a complete idiot or a milking you.

Did the dealer have you pay him anything OR did he have you submit the coin THROUGH him? if so he is not an idiot, he is just making a few easy dollars at your expense. Honestly it just seems he is an idiot to me.

 

Because it can. Giving the right conditions a coin can easily tone in a few days.

I am sorry but it is nothing. Nothing. It is a 1972 penny.

Sorry.

 

He and I have zero association. I joined and sent the coin in myself. I will never see that man again.

 

He is just an idiot as I suspected. I am sorry but your best bet is to call PCGS and ask them to not insure it on its return journey.

If you paid $250 than the coin should already of been graded and they should of emailed you.


I am sorry again but it is 100% nothing. It is like debating if the Earth revolves around the Sun...it is settled. Nothing to debate. The book is closed.

 

I must not be brought down by all this, I am not feeling like taking a beating today.
As soon as I am "let down" by the grading company, I will verify all of the negative thoughts that you have...unless, or course, something good is told to me. But, according to you, I might as well jump ship now. I have not heard from the grading company yet. I suppose they are still checking to see why the coin is the color it is...

 

This is nonsense.
Did you want a lie? The facts are the facts. I sent you a PM last week trying to avoid this and offered my help. I VERY clearly posted on this thread saying you have been very upfront and helpful and that as a community we owed her (you) the truth.

" I will verify all of the negative thoughts that you have"

This sentence is asinine and fringes on insulting. My thoughts are 'negative' because they are not what you wanted to hear? You asked for help. I am giving you what you asked for. If you wanted a bunch of people on the internet to come whisper "Oh wow you have a great, rare coin worth big $$" over and over you should of stated that. I was under the impression you wanted unbiased, factually based thoughts.

Get over yourself.

 

If you had said 99.99+ percent, I wouldn't quibble, but you are falling into the same category of making a 'unquestionable' decision without seeing or handling the coin yourself, let alone testing it. It could be plated and have a weight of 3.11 grams, or it might not be ( look at tolerances). I am more than semi-seasoned, and I would not say 100%, The weight doesn't concern me as much as the magnetic effect in making a determination, but one would have to have it in hand to make a determination. I feel personally that it is extremely unlikely, but wouldn't even say it is a perfect 100% chance the sun will not exploded tomorrow, or the yellowstone caldera erupt.

Everybody, ease up. Wait for the results. Jim