I was bank rolling some pennies today(Mainly do this just to collect wheats) and ran into a weird looking penny to day. It caught my eye right off the bat and I immediately put it aside. I do believe I have found my first error coin, so maybe someone here can help me out with this. The pictures do not do this penny justice - Its a beauty and SUPER shiny. Its just as shiny as the gold plated chocolate coins that come out around the Holidays (in the US). After doing a bit of research it appears it is a die filling error, I think is what it was called. This coin is cracked, the words are very blurry and you cant even make out a date. I thought this penny had been ran over or something until I inspected further. Everything appears larger on this penny as well and not very much detail Date almost looks like 2004 if you look at it in the right light. I scanned the penny and took pictures because the scanner didnt really show the color.Heres the pictures took with the scanner. Pictures with scanner: Pictures with digital cam: Sorry for the large images I havent had a chance to resize, besides, it gives you a better look at the coin. So any thoughts on this coin? Any help is greatly appreciated.
What has happened is post mint damage. It has been in a wishing well or other wet location for months. Any nick in the copper plating allows the zinc core to corrode into zinc oxide. Just like painted steel, the oxidized metal expands distorting and blistering the surface layer. Try this: take 1983 or newer junk penny and nick the copper layer in one spot. Put it in a jar with a 1/4 cup of vinegar. After several weeks pull the penny out. It should be mostly if not completely hollow. Your penny was on it's way towards being hollow.
