Hello, new here. Several years ago I was told that in 1983 there were some Lincoln Memorials minted out of brass? Supposedly some one punched the wrong material? I did find three what looks like brass colored pennies years ago. Are they brass or just toned? My next cent question is will the Lincolns minted from 2010 on be classified as "shield" and not memorial cents. I guess the next 50 years will be with the shield on the reverse?---thanks---John
Not sure about the coins you posted; however, there are 1983 brass plated examples. This is from Ken Potter's website: 1983 "Brass Plated Strikes" 1c 1983 cents struck on "brass plated planchets" were confirmed by the Mint officials and that information published in Coin World's, May 23, 1983 Collector's Clearinghouse written by Marilyn Van Allen). These are very similar to the 1985-D "brass plated strikes" offered below but these seem to be of a plating composition closer to the type of brass known as Tombac (being almost iridescent yellowish-green rather than the solid yellow of th1985-D issue). MS64 RD $25, MS65 RD $35, MS66 RD $45.00
deleted Jim beat me to it and he nailed it. I thought you were talking about coins struck on bronze planchets. Never mind.
There have been reports of 1983 cents struck on the older brass planchets (1963 to 1982 type) but I don't know for sure if they have ever been confirmed. Easiest way to identify them would be by weight. If they do exist they would weigh around 3.1 grams instead of the normal 2.5 grams. And yes as currently planned we have the shield cent until it is either discontinued or 2058, whichever comes first. And knowing our elected representatives I'm not making any predictions as to which it will be.
2058 is a long time to be keeping the shield which IMHO isnt that attractive, its better than the memorial, but there is room for improvement.
Even with the small pictures I think they are all the regular plated cents. Finding 3 of the copper 83's would be unheard of.
I'm brand new to Coin Talk so forgive me if I haven't posted this question correctly. I have a 1986 D penny which doesn't seem to be copper. I'm not sure what metal was used but I know it is not magnetic. If anyone knows anything about it as to what metal was used, if it is rare, & its value, I would greatly appreciate it! :yes: the pairs of pennies are just to show how the metal used contrasts to a regular copper penny.
t Because 2059 would be the 250th anniversary of Lincoln's birth and a new design would be used. 1958 was the last wheat, 2008 was the last Memorial, and 2058 would be the last shield. Your coin appears to have had the copper layer stripped off of it after it left the mint.
Is there a way to be sure of this or a way to see if it was a minting error? Sorry if I sound ignorant but we are kind of new at this. thanks
