Unexplainable

I won this off my LCS bid board and all it said was thin planchet and "unexplainable". It weighs 1.1 grams and is about the size of a US dime 18mm.

Appears to be copper. Can someone 'splain this one? I was thinking maybe the US was minting foreign coins and a foreign planchet got into the mix?

Edit: not magnetic

 

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I've seen copper coins "reduced" with acid with similar details retained as well as thin and light like this, but that 18mm dime size is hard to explain... admitedly the rim of the coin is gone/missing so either a smaller planchet was used to strike it or it was filed/ground off.. as only 1mm is missing that might possible be with the acid idea as well... indeed a very odd coin

 

Yes, I think you're right. The US Mint was minting foreign coins in 1940 and the die was changed to a Lincoln cent but the planchet was still from a foreign coin. Now you gotta figure out which foreign coin planchet was left in the hopper?? Anyone know??

 

It's DEFEX - Definitely Explainable

That would be an Acid Dipped Copper Cent.
Not struck on any foreign planchet. IMHO

 

I also think it was reduced in thickness and diameter by a soaking in an acidic solution.

 

Correct the acid attacks the edge as well as the faces and reduces the diameter just like it reduces the thickness

 

Acid...I agree with our fellow enthusiasts.

 

Appears to have been dipped in acid at some point in the past.

 

Hard to tell from those images but I think the devices and lettering are too sharp for an acid coin.
I think the explanation is something else, but what ...???

 

Acid/chemically treated
--Nothing more, nothing less

 

Remember, on copper and nickel coins, acid can enhance detail. Metal that flows into the devices gets more work-hardening, and that makes it more resistant to etching.

 

The reason they did this is that these acid cents would work in 10 cent vending machines.

 

Acid-soaked

 

Why would the coin be soaked in acid?

 

Don't understand your question Chris-

There can be either no reason, or many
reasons, but that has nothing to do with
the fact that the coin IS acid treated.

The why is unimportant - you'd be surprised
what folks do to their coins (as we see each
day on here)

 

Shaved to use as a dime in a machine. Exposed to some type of acid after that. All PMD with no additional value.

 

Listen to @Mountain Man

 

@Penny Luster, great answer. I'd never thought of that. Now, I have to start looking for ten cent vending machines!

Steve

 

Thanks all! I will get some comparison photos with a normal 1940 cent. Acid treated seems the favorite and is logical.

 

Way before my time and excellent answer.