Came across a 1983 D penny that has no copper on it at all. It doesn't look like the couple of others that I found and was told was dipped in acid it also doesn't look like it was buried or something like that. Let me know what you think. Thanks everyone for all the help you have given me so far and for the help I still need I know I have a lot to learn. "Trying to learn something new every day"
Could be one of two things. Your coin could have been struck on an unplated planchet and time and it's environment has resulted in it present condition. Or the plating has been remove as PMD. As the former cannot be proven the latter will always be attributed to it.
Yes, this can be done by soaking in Coca Cola or it could happen in an acidic environment or on a beach with salt water or any other numerous scenarios.
I found a few coins that people here said were acid dipped but they looked different with them by the time the acid removed the copper it also took away almost all the detail of the coin. So I'm doubtful about acid this penny has to much detail left. I'm just wondering what else could remove the copper and leave the detail?
Sorry, did not mean to imply acid or an acid dip in particular but more an acidic/ non alkaline type of environment. @paddyman98 has found numerous types like this metal detecting on the beach so salt water could be a point to think about. Coins found in drainage systems also turn out looking like this and even coins left in the street for too long with who knows what type of chemicals might come into contact with them. Time is a factor as to how much of a coins surface will erode depending upon what it came in contact with.
Appears to be environmental damage, as suggested by others. The pitted surface indicates it had been buried or in contact with an acidic substance IMO.
The only way to determine if a zincoln was struck on an unplated planchet is to look for luster on the surfaces (microscopic flow lines). Luster is quickly worn away as the coin circulates. It's not difficult to remove the copper plating from a zincoln, so unless you find an UNC example, it's going to be considered PMD
I would vote for acid solution . The raised portions show the most reaction, and they would likely be the thinnest portions being stretched on strike, fields less so. The date, mm, and some of the lettering and columns had detachment problems also. How was the rim? I assume the same. IMO, Jim
The previous ones I found paddyman said sat for a long time in coke or something similar. I don't live anywhere near a beach.
The rim while blackened is smooth as a baby's butt. The bumps on the surface I'm not sure but look like the standard zinc penny blisters just minus the copper over them.
I didn't think it was even worth that much. I was just wanting to see if anyone had any ideas on how the copper was removed with removing things like Liberty IGWT the date and MM because even a mild acid like in Coke by the time it removed the copper it would have removed most details. "Just trying to learn something new every day"
@alurid ’s response is a good one. Along with Oldhoopster. The take away on these occasional specimens is that after time in circulation, it becomes increasingly more difficult to properly attribute. This is a good thread to learn from.
Cant be an acid. Zinc is much more reactive. In fact if you can use acid to make a hollow copper shell with a penny. Acids will just ignore Copper and munch the Zinc
