I find these all the time in pocket change

Discussion in 'Error Coins' started by Pickin and Grinin, Oct 5, 2025.

  1. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

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  3. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

    I say definitely not. More like some kind of "toning" or plating issue in my opinion.
     
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  4. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    They tend to defy the logic of a missing plating, and do not look altered.
     
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  5. KBBPLL

    KBBPLL Well-Known Member

    I wonder if it's a form of verdigris that has this appearance because it's a thin layer of copper plating over zinc. It's showing in small places next to devices and also on the reverse. Maybe @BadThad has an answer.
     
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  6. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    Thats exactly why I question them. The zinc showing in the split plating and the zinc on the obverse are the same color and tone
     
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  7. ksmooter61

    ksmooter61 Scary ghost - BOO!

    Could this have been an end coin of a roll, obverse out, that was exposed to something while in storage?
     
  8. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    Possibly
     
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  9. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

    Great idea. I'll give it a try. See ya in 25 years or so! :D
     
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  10. BadThad

    BadThad Calibrated for Lincolns

    No error, just stained or toned in that area. I would hit it with water and see if it comes off. It looks like an AU coin so no telling where it's been.
     
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  11. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    And if it doesn't? I have rinsed them with acetone and no change.. Usually to a darker tone and doesn't look natural.
    Maybe a simple nontoxic science experiment? I have found maybe five or six of these in the past 4 years.
     
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  12. mikediamond

    mikediamond Coin Collector

    Solid state diffusion caused by exposing the cent to elevated temperatures.
     
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  13. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    Conceivable, but I'd expect that if it had been exposed to those elevated temperatures while also exposed to air, it would've darkened as well. Maybe not.

    I feel that experimental itch coming on. I think I've got the goods at this point to cobble together a fairly well-controlled heating box.
     
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  14. CoinCorgi

    CoinCorgi Tell your dog I said hi!

    We call it an oven.
     
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  15. ksmooter61

    ksmooter61 Scary ghost - BOO!

    I like variable temperature enclosure.
     
  16. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    Better controlled than that, and at lower temperatures. I hope.
     
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  17. SensibleSal66

    SensibleSal66 U.S Casual Collector / Error Collector

    Maybe Betty put it her Easy bake oven?
     
  18. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    Thanks Mike
    @-jeffB Looking forward to your experiment.
     
  19. BadThad

    BadThad Calibrated for Lincolns

    Possibly but the heat would have to have been very localized and controlled since the reverse and periphery are not affected.

    I've experimented with a mini blow torch many times in the past and this is not a color/pattern I could replicate, it's too even and monochromatic. Heat will usually product multiple colors. I'm still leaning toward a stain.
     
  20. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    I was thinking along the same lines, but wondered if the striking process might have left the copper layer thinner toward the center. I doubt it; if anything, it should be thinner where it's stretched the most, and it seems like that would be around the devices...?
     
  21. 71Avalon

    71Avalon Well-Known Member

    I find these from time to time. Most of them though are in bad shape, but the last one I found was decent. I hold on to them in case it is a plating issue. I keep them in a tiny envelope with my actual errors. Maybe someday I'll find out, but I think it's one of those cases that an expert would have to look at them in hand and there's nobody in my area.
     
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