1981 off metal penny

Greetings everyone. I've been collecting pennies for a few years now and came across this odd 1981 no mint mark penny. It has a different feel to it and sounds different when you drop it on a table. I read about experienmental coins in 1981 but haven't got much info. Any help or directions will be greatly appreciated.

 

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Your coin is just enviromentaly damaged. Was probably in the ground for awhile or dipped in acid or something similar.

 

It's very interesting (and telling - hint, hint) that such questions almost always revolve around coins that have had very hard lives.

Sound and feel are meaningless. Perhaps start by simply weighing it and go from there.

 

And learn what mint a "no mint mark" coin is from.

 

It weights 2.5 grams

 

because of the loss of metal.

 

Ok thanks. I wondered if that's what it was because of the way it looks. What through me off was the size and features of the coin. I placed it next to a zinc coin and it was the exact size but smaller than the copper ones.

 

For my info what type of metal loss is going on here? Is it copper or....?

 

All cent coins, zinc, copper alloy, steel are the same size leaving the mint. so I am not sure of your statement. Stack them on top of each other.

 

Washed it in water that was too hot.

 

As wounded as this coin is, I'm slightly surprised it didn't scream when dropped.

 

I placed the 1981coin on top of a 1990 coin and it's the same size. I next placed it on a 1979 coin and the 1981 was smaller.

 

Umm, no.

 

I don't dispute the "wounded soldier" is small, but the other two are the same diameter. I don't see the relevant dates in your picture, BTW. The minted diameter of cents hasn't changed since 1857.

 

I understand and thanks for your time.

 

fixed it for you Kurt.

 

You're secretly bucking for my cynicism award, ain'tcha?

Actually, it WAS "off metal". There was lotsa metal off that coin. It looks like it has at some point been a "plop, plop, fizz, fizz" coin.

 

Why speak for another man? Whether waisted time or not it wasn't your time. People like you will not stop me from asking questions.

 

Really? Where?