How to tell Zinc Plated Steel Cent from an Original Steel Cent

I have plans soon to go to the coin shop and buy a few Steel Cents for my collection and I just want to know how to tell a Zinc Plated Steel Cent from an Original Steel Cent? What are the tell tale signs of Zinc Plating?
Thanks ~Corbyn

 

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Just as a heads up, all 1943 steel cents were zinc plated at the Mint to protect the steel from rust. This is the reason for the dark steel blue color on many circulated steel cents. Zinc is a reactive metal though, so the zinc plating would corrode and dissolve.

 

Yet it only keeps them black AND rusty after a bit of circulation. I have the same troubles with telling re-plated steelies. I usually check from one of my known plated steelies, but have heard from the Accent On Coins dealer that if you can see it being glossy, it is usually re-plated.

 

who an why do thy replated them???

 

Replated steelies will have plating around the edge of the coin, whereas original BU examples will not.
The mint stamped blanks out of a zinc plated strip of steel, the planchets were not plated individually.

 

Any '43 steelie that's been in circulation is ugly; the original zinc plating did not hold up well in the long term. So a few "novelty" type companies replate circulated coins and sell them along with a card and plastic case as "war issue pennies". As the geezer states, replating will cover the edge and also gives a "high shine" finish (but lacking luster).

 

Does an original steelie have a "Cartwheel" Luster?

 

dont think i ever saw one

 

Yes they do.

The real key is the edge though. the plating is thin but if you look at the edge of an unc steel cent you can see a color difference between the zinc and the steel core. (When the blank is punched from the plated strip it does drag the zinc down over the edge slightly on one side so you should be able to see both the zinc and the steel on the edge and see the color difference. Be forewarned though that it isn't a major difference in color, but the steel will be a little grayer.)

Someone needs to get a good clear picture of the edge of a MS steel cent that can be stickied someplace that we can link to. This question comes up moderately often.

 

Okay, so I did take a look in my collection and found this BU steelie and tried to take quick photos, they aren't the best but they are there...
And yes, genuine ones have a full cartwheel luster.

 

Reprocessed steal cents are a total rip off, and I have seen sets of all 3 PDS mints reprocessed selling for $5.95 from one of the
most expensive dealers in the nation. Value? 10 cents wholesale just as an ugly circ. piece.

 

aren't they all zinc plated?

 

Yes, but people re-plate them as a novelty to get that "eye appeal" for the inexperienced eye.

 

Here are a couple pics of a corroded unc steel cent. Still has the luster in the fields but lots of corrosion. Hope these help.

 

I have that same problem on the reverse of the coin I posted, didn't wanna crop it though... Too lazy

 

I have some replated cents that I will shoot in a bit to compare.

 

Thanks, that'll help a lot!

 

To answer earlier questions, they replate cents so that they can put xf-au cents with corrosion or wear into sets like these and sell on shows like Coin Vault.


And here are some close ups of the plated cents. You can see up close that re-plating is nowhere near as even as the original zinc. There are pits and bumps and the detail of the devices are not the same. Plus on the side you can see where the plating didn't stick, where as the original unc has the scrape marks from when the blanks were punched from a sheet.

 

I think you meant replated, zinc was used by the mint as well as the replaters....although I've seen some that look chrom plated.

Once you've seen a few side by side the difference is obvious. An original coin will have a somewhat dull but full cartwheel luster. A replated one will look more mirror-like and flashy. Also, if you look closely at the cheek (and other typical wear points on a Lincoln), you'll often be able to tell there's an EF or worse coin under there.

 

Yes, excellent example of a replated cent! Notice how it's a VF/EF cent under there. LOL

If you ever see one of these sets, you can count on them holding junk like this.