@physics-fan3.14 here is a different angle with less light, maybe you see what I mean about the fields looking clear besides the color change around the devices. You can also see more of the color and I feel the fields are very clear, but I also have very little background in coin grading so I could be horribly wrong haha. The left side of the obverse, the orange-ish color is the way the area around the letters appears on the reverse if light catches right they seem as "toned" as that field. 1943 Steel Penny (Green/blue Toned) by LuxUnit posted Nov 19, 2017 at 11:08 PM 1943 Steel Penny (Green/blue Toned) by LuxUnit posted Nov 19, 2017 at 11:08 PM
Unfortunately, Lux, these new pictures only confirm my suspicions that this piece was polished. The key thing I'm looking at is the open fields compared to the fields around the devices. Notice how, for example, the obverse field in front of Lincolns face appears shiny, but the area around the date appears duller? That's because whatever they used to polish this coin couldn't get into the smaller areas. You see this around all of the lettering - the open fields are shiny, the areas in the lettering has a different appearance. Polishing won't necessarily show hairlines (such as your coin, which was most likely polished with baking soda and a soft-bristled toothbrush). Original coins may also sometimes show die polishing lines, such as my coin below. Distinguishing the difference will take time and practice. If it were a truly prooflike coin, all of the fields would have a similar appearance. Compare your coin to mine, which is semi-prooflike but fully original:
So let me get this straight. PLUS EQUALS Nice! I’m going to buy a sack full! Lol. BTW nice coin, just the way I like them not quite perfect. PERFECT!
Ha thank you guys, I appreciate the explanation @physics-fan3.14 and I meant "proof like" very loosely. @352sdeer I do too! If I remember correctly I found it searching through coin counter rejects. I've only bought about 30 coins in my life and this one isnt in my ledger.
I realize you are being sarcastic. And no, baking soda won't reverse corrosion like that. But it will take an EF/AU coin and make it look shiny so unsuspecting buyers will pay more for it. If you don't believe me, take a look at this Lincoln cent which I polished with baking soda, as described. It has the exact same shiny look with a halo around the devices. I recommend that anyone interested take a low value, modern coin out of their pocket change and try it!
Yup being a little snarky. I only collect Lincoln Cents, have since 1968. I know it works as I’ve tortured poor Abe just about every way I could imagine as a kid! I never messed with Steelies much as we just didn’t find them much as kids and I never liked the rusty little “pennies”. I certainly didn't spend my pop bottle money on rusty coins! I put an Lol in there AND that usually means “DO NOT TAKE SERIOUSLY” please. Plus the tone of my post was friendly AND polite so what’s up? Sorry I was having fun. I’ll stop and desist immediately! L.O.L. Laugh out loud so there is no mistake! Reed. P.s I even politely commented on how nice your coin was, SHEESH!
I have a hard time interpreting when you are joking or not, 352. I didn't mean any offense - I was just trying to clear up any confusion.
No problems some times I admit I’m confusing but I usually just confuse me! Thanks for the response. Reed.
I agree with @physics-fan3.14, that was re-plated, you can even see the re-plating along the rims. They re-plate these in different ways. Some are mirror-like, smooth and shiny, while others are crustier, like this. Re-plated and re-toned is the dx from here. We've got quite a few of these. Sometimes they can fool you a little.
They didn’t usually replate nice coins but I have heard of it done. Like you stated there are different ways so this coin could have been lightly “reprocessed”. Here is one that got the heavy reprocessing option, it’s hard to see by my poor image but this coins covered in plated over rust pits. I pulled this from a box about 6 years ago! Just shows you it’s possible to pull nice looking steel still. Their out there plated and unplated! Reed.