Hello all, Okay, so I purchased this penny off of EBay the other day for a few dollars. I mainly wanted a this particular penny so I could complete the series. Since the seller only listed one photo (which was of no help whatsoever) along with the fact that it was ungraded and didn’t even mention the condition (other than excellent) I knew full well that it was going to be garbage. Anyhow, after having received it — I immediately knew something was off the minute I took it out of its flip. It was far too shiny and even to the naked eye, it appeared to have suffered some sort of man-made disaster. However, after I put it under magnification, what I had originally suspected to be the result of improper/excessive cleaning, has left wondering whether the coin has been painted. To be fully honest — I am simply stumped as to what exactly it is that I am looking at and am reaching out to the community for advice. (Just in case it’s not obvious, the first four pics were taken under magnification; the remaining three were taken with my iPhone. By the way, I included a mint state circulated quarter in the final shot simply as a reference to get a better idea as to the real color of the coin.)
Yes damage looks like it was electro plated or even a modern reproduction which is why it looks so shiny and I wouldn't of considered even buying it in the first place.
@Strik9 Some information https://coinweek.com/counterfeits/counterfeit-detection-special-edition-reprocessed-steel-cents/ Also for @potty dollar 1878
There may be more reprocessed steel cents than there are unmolested steel cents. The fellows above are correct...... Imagine shooting paint over a rough and rusty surface. The new spray conceals the rust, but the uneven surface beneath shows through. Same idea here.
it was re-plated, whatever corrosion it had is still there under the plating. sure it's shiny, but you can clearly see the areas where it corroded. it's very common to find them "reprocessed".
I think you are looking at a rust damaged steel cent that has been possibly acid dipped and cleaned to remove the rust and then re-plated to look like new. The pitted areas on the surface of your coin are from the rust being removed, as new plating does not adhere to rust well and they seem to be below (incuse) the surface of the coin.
I know you're trying to be helpful, but you need to be more specific in your response. Which part of the sentence above is correct? damage? electroplated? modern reproduction? shiny?
Wow… well, I would like to thank everyone for providing their “two cents” No seriously everyone — thank you! Just one thing that I wanted to mention (or restate) and that’s the fact that I knew from the very get-go that I would be receiving a worthless coin. As I said above, I had only needed something to fill the empty spot in my collection until I am able to obtain an authentic/real one (minus any of the usual tactics employed by EBay sellers when it comes to non-graded coins.) Again, I appreciate everyone’s’ responses.
Looks what is now called Reprocessed. It’s damaged by being recoated. These are not expensive coins to begin with. Any reputable dealer should have what you want at a reasonable price.
A few years ago, a couple of companies were offering the public nice shiny 1943 cents. They would just take a bunch of 1943 cents and reprocess them, regardless of their condition. It appears to me that maybe this coin was in the process of deteriorating when they threw it in the chemicals and it coated over it. Just my thoughts.
I have a complete set of 1943 reprocessed steel cents. I bought them from a local coin shop a few years ago.
The original coin was struck on a steel plate that had been electroplated with zinc on both sides. Thus when the planchet was made only the faces were shiny zinc, the core was dull grey of steel . When they reprocess a '43, all is coated with zinc so the edge is shiney on a reprocessed and one a real one grey or rusted on the edge. Follow the Edge!!!!! They also ( same company) advertised this which is why so many fake "copper" '43 cents show up.