1981 penny black streaks

Can someone tell me are the blacks streaks on the obverse and reverse of this penny what they call grease marks?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

It has nothing to do with grease. It is considered a Improperly Mixed Alloy Planchet. Nicknamed Woodies.

Here is some information - http://www.error-ref.com/improper-alloy-mix/

 

So helpful, thank you!

 

No need to quote me.. Just post what you need to say. I will see it.

 

I see these a lot on 1980/1981 cents. Not sure why.

 

The last years before the switch to zinc planchets. I would dare say the mint was mixing and melting all the usable copper that was around the mint in an effort to get get rid of it all. This is also the time in which the mint ceased making copper planchets for cents as they turned to a subcontractor for their new copper plated zinc cent planchets. If my memory serves me correctly.

 

Welcome to CT

 

@GARY R COYIER when you reply, use the "reply" at the bottom and it automatically repeats the post you replied to.