Plated.. There are many threads here on CoinTalk with the same question. It is not a mint error of any kind. Welcome to CoinTalk
probably a high school experiment at one time. Various non-US mints also would (and still do) plate coins and resell them for probably over the last 50+ years. They'll plate anything silver, gold, platinum, ruthenium, they'll also paint them, etc. All to make money above their face value. Oh, and when the novelty wears off you can still spend them for face value.
Great conversation piece but it does appear to be plated, in my opinion. If you have it checked by a professional I would like to know the result. Good luck!
Most likely coated with Mercury. Every so often you see pennies on here with the same condition -silver looking. Heard that you get some mercury in your hands and rub the mercury into the penny and it will turn silver looking. You don't see any pennies like this in the zinc years after mercury was declared public enemy #1. Usually the pennies that show up here like this are from the 60's and 70's era. I remember in high school the science teacher had a little dog dish of mercury for everyone to touch and teach lessons with. Now its a Hazmat declaration and probably everyone would have to suit up and close the school down.
I had a science teacher that did the same thing, allowing us to touch the mercury and watch it scoot away. I enjoy your response and learned from your knowledge. I did not know that mercury could change or even stick to a penny. Thank you
Like @Snowman said. Mercury!!! Stop putting it in your mouth and wash you hands which you should be doing already!!!
When I was in sixth grade, I got the awful science teacher, who hated science. I didn't get the cool science teacher, who let his students roll mercury around in their hands. Until it fell on the floor and disappeared into the gaps in the hardwood flooring. This is why we can't have nice things. Or fun ones.
or you can just put a little bead of Hg on it from that broken thermometer and rub it around with your fingers...never hurt meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
I’ll give you your first like and a Welcome to CT...nice first post. Try to improve your pictures by cropping out the excess and making sure they are in focus before you post. Forum members can help you best that way. And, wear white cotton gloves when you handle your coins, because, in this case, you are learning they may have toxic or biologic substances on them. I continue to work with coins but I’m washing my hands about 12 times a day now. Welcome aboard...Spark
...just hunkered down in the ol’ bat cave with the wife and family dog tryin’ to ride out the bat guano virus...but we are okay and got word today all of our family members are safe too...hope y’all are staying well...Spark