I found this Lincoln Cent while going threw a few rolls of pennies. Any help figuring this one out will be great. Its a 1942P mint and before the steel cents so I am confused? Thanks.
Here's what you do... keep it in the "error" 2x2, sell it at a flea market for $5, and pocket the $4.99 profit. This plated coin is worth just one cent.
Metal Plating is a vanishing vocation. 50+ years ago the podunk town of 7,000 I grew up in had 3 metal plating shops. The high school also had a metalworking class that used it to plate buckles, auto parts, etc. But I think the toxicity, environmental regulations, etc., has almost eliminated them. This same community of 150,000 now has not a single metal plating business left. In the 60s-70s, plated coins were very common and most were familiar with them, but now, some younger collectors made not even know about plating. Jim
Since it's a 1942, it might have been worth 3c. But plating it has reduced the numismatic value. I toss those plated cents in an old plastic mayonnase jar just because they are copper. Back in the 1950's-60's nearly every high school in the nation had metal and auto shops. As well as science labs where plating was taught and done. The easiest and cheapest thing to plate was a cent. I have found chrome, zinc and gold plated ones while roll searching. They are fun conversation pieces, but not worth anything as far as coin collecting except face value. IMHO gary
Coinflation would put it between 2 and 3 cents. I'd toss it in with your other common wheats, though. I'm trying to make a full box of common wheats roll searching, and I'm about 1/4 of the way there. But same question as Gonzo, how do you know its plated? Just looks a bit discolored to me. It's just a weird brown, may have been left in oil or something, I don't know.
look at the obverse rim. The plating has been rubbed off in places there. If you look closely you can see the copper peeking out from underneath
