Hello all, I recently came across a 1976 Lincoln Cent that feels and looks differently than other cents I have come across. It came as part of a 1776-1976 bicentennial collection. It has a silvery mirror like color, but at the same time it has the cleaning marks like someone electroplated it. They either did a very good job in making the coin give off the silver appearance or do I have something unique? It is not attracted to a magnet and rings differently when dropped. The coloring is also along the rim of the coin. Is it possible someone at the mint struck a 1976 cent on the 1974-1975 experimental aluminum planchet? I'm more inclined to believe that someone has electroplated the coin as a science experiment but thought it interesting it came as part of the bicentennial mint cent. I'm hopefully going to be taking this to the coin dealer in the area to weigh it since I don't have a scale.
Weight will tell of course. Since there has never been a report, inkling, or even a vague rumor of them doing a 76 cent chances are 99.9999999999999% its a plating experiment. Feel it, does it feel about like a pre-83 cent? An aluminum cent will be so light it you would barely tell its on your finger.
If it really was struck on an aluminum planchet, you'd have quite the find there. The magnet test wouldn't work on either an aluminum or a regular cent from that year. When you say it was part of a Bicentennial Mint Set, what exactly was that? I'm assuming it wasn't one of these:
As easy way to weigh it roughly would be to make your own little "scale" with a 1983 or later penny glued to one end of a wooden Popsicle stick. Glue a plastic drinking straw to the middle of the stick and test it with both pre-1982 pennies (should be heavier) and post-1982 pennies (should pretty much balance.) If the post-1982 penny weighs a lot more (as evidenced by the coin going down rather quickly), then you might have a winner. (But I'm gonna have to go with medoraman on this one. Chances are incredibly low that it is aluminum.) Hope this helps.
They were doing a lot of plating of cents during that era, I remember some being glued to little rings that were sold in those little red vending machines.
True, especially coins dated 1976. I have seens countless cents countermarked with different designs, different colors, etc. from the mid-70's, especially 1976 dated ones. It just seemed to be an "in" thing to mess with cents and sell them off to gullible public as special "commemorative" coins.
@Peter: Yes, it came in one of those sets, which is the main reason for my curiosity. I'll try setting up a scale like Dougmeister suggested if the dealer doesn't call before I leave. I'm heading out anyway in a few hours, so perhaps I can manage to stop by the dealer if he does call back(which I would prefer) There are also a few homeschool supply stores out here so maybe one of them would have something like a gram scale I could purchase.
Looks like the stick route will be the easiest way to go. Dealer hasn't called back yet and I'm leaving in about an hour and a half. I'll put stopping at target or walmart on my to do list.
Yes. Here is a picture of the mint set. There was already a coin missing out of that set. Please tell me I didn't screw up.
So basically someone defaced US currency? I thought that was punishable by jail time. At least I have a few dozen 1955 pennies to check for the DDO.
Looks like it. It's illegal to deface currency for fraud purposes. People are free to do what they want with their coins, they are their personal property, as long as they do not attempt to defraud anyone. Yours is an aftermarket set, not from the mint, so anything could have been done to that cent. Sorry to not give you better news.
It IS illegal to deface CURRENCY, but you can do most anything you want to with coins as long as it isn't done with fraudulent intent.....except melt cents and non-silver five cent pieces. And even those you can deface, beat up cut to pieces etc. Just don't melt them.
