How can you tell the difference between the origional steel penny and the reprocessed pennys with the new layer of zinc?
I had a 3 coin set that I sold the other day---I'm pretty sure that two of them were Reprocessed....they look cleaned almost with an almost proof look. Speedy
For one thing, look at the edge of the coin. The steel cents were struck on planchets that had been punched out of zinc plated steel strip. So the zinc plating is on the obverse and reverse surfaces only. The edge of an original steel cent will normally show all three layers of metal with the steel usually being a duller grey color and the lighter zinc layers are very thin. On a reprocessed cent the zinc covers all the surfaces of the coin, both faces and edge. So there will be no color change on the edge.
alright thanks,I was just wondering because I bought a Unc PDS Steel Set for about 5 bucks. Then I was looking in Littleton and there was a similar set but it was about 45 bucks and I wondering why there was such a price difference.
Also,if they are UNC,they will exhibit mint luster that is absent from the "repros",(see photo). Here is the last of MANY threads that have appeared here in the recent past: http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=14979
Nope---I sold it at the show I set up at...I think the guy gave me $2 for it.....he asked what I wanted and so I made a higher offer and he took it Speedy
Some times the zinc will have a bluish tint to it as well. You can also look at the PUP's for the reprocess. Look at the US of A and look at the wheat lines for thicker flows.
