you don't have to "dip" it in acid. could always use a dropper and put a few drops just on one face. Then you can see the reaction more readily. you never know ...
Ok.. I don't know who you would send that Cent to get it analized but good luck.. Make sure you get back to us on the results!
@Clawcoins Don't worry about it.. He has to learn somehow.. I mean, who the heck are we anyways? Specialists, experts?
Please, I don't disrespect your knowledge. It's one of those things that I just want to confirm. I wanted expertise,that's why I came here. Sometimes I get something that I want answers to. Nothing more,nothing less.
Not me. I probably damage more coins than I collect. Couple weeks ago for kids artsy projects i had to drill a hole in some cents .. so I picked pre '82 cents. Don't worry. I nicely polished the holes so that it looks it came that way from the mint.
What is the normal specific gravity for a copper cent? Did the college give you the actual weight as well?
You're probably right. Anyway, the density of a zinc penny is 7.2, the density of a copper penny is 8.8, and the density of a steel penny is 7.7. We all know the weight of pennies, this has a weight of 2.36g. No, it is not magnetic.
If a copper cent is that light, and it's not a thinly rolled planchet, the weight loss is from being in acid. People have been dropping pennies in acid since before you were born. I know you said it's not acid, because blah, blah, blah. But the reality is, the odds are that it has been in acid, as opposed to the odds of it being some kind of rare coin. Every single person who comes in here, thinks that their common damaged coin is some kind of rare error. Errors are rare for a reason, and it's unlikely to just find one in a bowl of change. It's more likely that it is damaged.
Thank you for the blah,blah,blah. Good for a laugh for everyone. Your right it probably is acid dipped. Retiring from the stamping and plating field just had me wondering. As as a bowl of change,not really. Going through 10, 5gal buckets of pennies my parents started saving in the late 40's. Not sure what I'll find. Just wanted some expert advice. If I knew,I wouldn't be here. Thanks again.
The SG would seem to rule out a simple acid soak because an acid soak would not lower the SG and the value he got from the college is well below that of the alloy used in a 1972 cent. So it either is something unusual, or someone at the school blew the SG test.
Good morning. Took the coin to Kent state. SG came out the same...7.7 to 8.1 range. Actual was 7.8. This is the second college I have been to.
The SG makes this seem unusual as @Conder101 said. Could this have been struck on stock the mint was using for some other country? Interesting coin.
Based on the photos, especially the close ups of the surfaces, it's been lightly acid, or chemically treated. It's not on a rolled think planchet - it's been damaged by chemicals.
You mention that you have taken it to two colleges, including Kent State. I have worked at several colleges in the chemistry department. What department did you take it to? Who did the composition determination? Enquiring minds want to know!
Started at the physics department, then went to the lab. Not the chemistry department, working with solids not liquids.