1974 cent looks like steel

Sorry no pic.......but..... I picked up a lot of coins yesterday. In it was a Lincoln cent, minted in 1974. Only it looks just like a steel cent. It is not magnetic. Any experienced folks out there that could explain this? Is it worth anything?

 

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It may have been dipped in Mercury.

 

It is most likely a zinc coating. It is a popular chemistry experiment. They call them silver and gold cents, but they are really zinc plated ( silver-zinc color) and brass ( golden color after the 2nd reaction with burner heat). Kids maake dozens inchem lab and then after the novelty wears off , they spend them.

http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryhowtoguide/a/goldsilverpenny.htm

Jim

 

I got a gold cent and I Googled it and was led to an old post here where they discuss the scientific experiment that turned it gold.

 

Thanks!

 

I appreciate the link. Can a wartime steelie be replated in zinc?

 

Any coin can be plated in zinc.

And gold, silver, nickel, chrome, etc.

 

Thanks