I recently came by this "43-s struck thru grease, I would like to know your opinions on what you think it is worth? I am NOT trying to sell this, nor am I looking for answers like "It's worth whatever you think its worth to you", I'm simply curious as to each of your opinions on this. What would you pay for this? It is a fairly common error but this is a really nice example, I'm interested to see what you all think
It looks to be an electroplate. Now don't go off, there are other opinions forthcoming I'm sure. On the reverse by the big O and the motto, that area typically takes the strike the weakest, for the deep cavity of the chest on the other side. That's seen on the coppers, too, and isn't unique to these. The 4 and the S are a little greased and the S didn't take the strike all that well. But anyway, all the aforesaid is common on these. Hey, FWIW...
I might be seeing things but the S on the full picture looks different than the closeup. Can't say for sure because the full pic is blurred when enlarged. Can you show a better full pic of obverse please?
I noticed that. The coins look different in the pics. The full pics look like an electoplated coin while the close-up pics look like a different coin.
Here it is with the flash, not sure if it helps at all, you can tell its the same coin by the flattened lettering in the motto at the top of the obverse
That looks closer to the close-ups. I'm still not sure the surface isn't funny, but the rest is just normal, trust me, we've hundreds of these, some dipped and electroplated, too.
I believe you, I don't have enough experience to recognize the difference between an electroplated and normal so thank you for you opinion on it I'll do some reading up on it...
An original steel cent was punched out of zinc coated steel strips (galvanized), they were not punched out and then plated. the edges are bare steel around the coin. Reprocessed steel cents have been recoated after they were punched out meaning the edge also has zinc (or chrome or tin in some cases of reprocessed cents) you'd want to inspect the edge of the coin with a magnifier, it should be fairly apparent if it's been bare steel from 1943 or it's been reprocessed and it's clean, or reprocessed and edge damage and nicks have exposed some steel. you should also try to get used to how a struck coin looks as far as luster vs. a plated coin. there is a clear difference between the two with how light moves around the coin but that's a little more advanced than just checking the edge for bare steel or even signs of rust, or just as shiny as the obverse and reverse in the case of the reprocessed cent.
