1982 Zinc Penny - what happened?

Discussion in 'Error Coins' started by RBurk, Jan 15, 2021.

  1. RBurk

    RBurk Active Member

    Very weak - blurred strike both sides

    [​IMG] WIN_20210115_16_26_40_Pro.jpg
    WIN_20210115_16_27_00_Pro.jpg WIN_20210115_16_29_44_Pro.jpg WIN_20210115_16_29_07_Pro.jpg WIN_20210115_16_26_40_Pro.jpg WIN_20210115_16_25_59_Pro.jpg
     
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  3. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

    Looks like environmental damage. Looks like a dryer coin and being in the ground to long ? Wait for more opinions...
     
    Kevin Mader likes this.
  4. RBurk

    RBurk Active Member

    Don't know, but it looks like that's how it was minted to me. Thanks for your input - we'll get some more opinions, hopefully. It is very shiny though so maybe.
     
  5. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

    Are you sure it is Copper Plated Zinc?.. 1982 Cents were also made with Copper Planchets.

    Could be corrosion. IMHO.
     
  6. RBurk

    RBurk Active Member

    I weighed it at 2.5 grams so I know it's zinc. To me it does not look like corrosion. It is heavily "splattered" as many of this era are, and I don't see wear on the splatter spots. Also, look at IN GOD WE TRUST. That's not environmental damage.
     
  7. potty dollar 1878

    potty dollar 1878 Well-Known Member

    Corrosion or exposed to high heat ? its not an error most likely.
     
  8. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

    Sorry but how could the raised rim fold over the lettering that was struck? Impossible.
    DEFDAM - Definitely Damaged :yack:

    Dryer damage.
     
  9. Incharge

    Incharge Active Member

    Is That a 3 under the eight
    [​IMG]
     
  10. potty dollar 1878

    potty dollar 1878 Well-Known Member

    Its just a UFO and damage
     
  11. RBurk

    RBurk Active Member

    I doubt it though I must admit I wondered too.
     
  12. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

    one last time.. DEFDAM - Definitely Damaged.. PMD Cent.

    NO number 3 under the 8.. It would have to be struck over a Cent from the 1930's.. which was made of Copper. Come on guys. Use some common sense.
     
  13. RBurk

    RBurk Active Member

    It's not folded over. There is clear space between the letters and rim.
     
  14. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

    OK.. but I still say damaged..

    done here.
    Good luck.
     
    Kentucky likes this.
  15. RBurk

    RBurk Active Member

    I saw that too. It does look like something is under the 8. Upper left and inside of the lower part of the digit.
     
  16. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    I wonder if it's a copper cent corroded down to 2.5 grams?
     
    Heavymetal likes this.
  17. Heavymetal

    Heavymetal Well-Known Member

    I’m with you . That much wear and acid damage would show zinc rot everywhere
     
  18. RBurk

    RBurk Active Member

    I don't know, but it would really be a coincidence if it corroded down to the exact normal weight of a zinc. I too am skeptical of an error but if not an error of sorts what could have caused it? It really does not make sense either way to me.
     
  19. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    I find that a lot easier to believe than that a Zincoln could sustain that degree of damage and have its plating intact.

    Put it on a table top next to a normal cent, and see how thick it is.
     
  20. Oldhoopster

    Oldhoopster Member of the ANA since 1982

    Never assume it's an error because you don't know what caused the damage. There are an untold number of ways a coin can be damaged but only a limited number of ways a error can occur. The minting process is well documented, so you need to explain how your coin could have left the mint looking like that

    There is no way it could occur in the minting process. It isn't a planchet issue, not a die issue and not a striking issue. The weak details and rough surfaces look like it was exposed to some acidic or caustic solution.
     
    paddyman98 likes this.
  21. RBurk

    RBurk Active Member

    Thanks Oldhoopster, but I am not assuming it's an error (per the post you replied to). It could be that it was exposed to some acidic or caustic solution but wouldn't that have exposed at least some zinc in order to get that kind of corrosion? One thing that gives me pause is IN GOD WE and to a lesser extent TRUST where the tops of the letters are missing which to me does indicate a possible strike anomaly. We've all seen some of that but not to this degree very often if at all. Additionally, I've seen many early zinc pennies that do have this rough surface but again, not to this extent. Is it possible that the mint was trying to dial in the proper strike pressure? Might that explain both the weak strike and the extremely rough surface?
     
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