1982 20 Pence - Off Metal Strike (OMS)

Hello folks:

I came across a 20 pence in copper (probably) as opposed to the usual copper-nickel. If anyone knows the story behind this and an approx value, I would highly appreciate it.

Are these common? Are these rare? Are these real/fake? Couldn't find much online.

Please fire away!

Thank you, kindly.

 

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That's considered Environmental toning. Clad contains Cupro-Nickel. The copper can tone when exposed to the elements.

Worth? 20 Pence

You're welcom.

 

IMO that coin needs to be weighed and seen in hand as similar OMS are known. Brit OMS do not bring big prices but if genuine might go at 100 USD or so. I’d certainly offer 20 right now based on pictures alone. This is not IMO the type of toning on environmental.

 

Interesting comment. Maybe the weight can justify the difference. Let's see if the OP can weigh the coin.

 

With the red luster still in the incuse parts of the coin, I also doubt that this is mere environmental toning.

 

The other question would be if it is a wrong planchet strike then which other British coin would it be? Was there another coin struck at that time with the same size planchet and copper?

 

Perhaps a 1p or 2p?

 

I'd bet a 1p. Just squinting at the OP's pics, the edges do not look as sharply 7-sided as a typical 20p planchet. It is not perfectly round, but not quite right, either. If the weight matches a 1p (3.56g) that would seal the deal for me.

 

As per my comments in another forum, I would bet this is environmental damage. GB cupro-nickel coins that have been in the ground frequently go this colour - I have seen all denominations before.
They do not clean easily, so easiest way to check is a very small scratch on the rim - if it comes up white metal you have your answer.
@7Jags if you are happy to give 20 for one of these, I may have a few for you! Mostly I just spend them.

 

Uh that would NOT be a blanket offer! LOL

As stated above there should not be lustre in the device recesses in an “environmental”.

 

Paddy, would you by any chance have any pictures to share? Of what you have seen or found or have with you?

 

This all depends on how long the coin was in the damaging situation. An environmentally damaged coin surely can show luster.

I am only watching the thread, I don't have an opinion on if this coin is off metal or not. Just watching for the outcome.

 

Yes a series would be nice. Careful with any scratching please.
I only say what I say as I have more than a little experience with 20th C OMS.

 

Here are a couple from my junk box. The only reason they haven't been spent is that they are the old size and so have to be taken to the bank.

 

Lets hope the OP is able to weigh it and will repost. I agree that obviously environmental damage can make copper-nickle look like copper (or lots of other colors for that matter). But this coin looks odd to me for that. As mentioned earlier, the shape is off, and the remaining luster looks unlikely, even though perhaps not impossible, for environmental damage.

 

As we wait I just wanted to share this coin I once picked up raw at a flea market. I sent it to have attributed! Got a good one!

 

Wow, that looks promising. Lovely coin paddyman98!

 

Paddy - do you see what I mean about the difference in what you showed versus the OP coin? These appear at least to me quite different. And thanks for posting yours.

 

To a degree, but I still think it is environmental damage on the OP coin - just hasn't been in the ground as long as the ones I posted. To me the pale areas on the OP coin look too pale to be bronze and suggest underlying white metal. (Bear in mind the bright shiny bronze coins we see get that way by going through an annealing process post-strike, which a 20p coin could never get into.)
Also, to get an off metal strike in that shape would require that a sheet of bronze had been fed into the 20p striking process, which would result in a whole batch of errors being produced, which in turn would have attracted attention. A penny blank getting into the 20p feed hopper would not do it as the shape and size would be wrong.
I would not lay out money on that being an off metal strike without an accurate weight check and an edge scratch test.

 

Environmental toning can look like that.