1943 Copper Plated Steel Cent

Right, he didn't have to work for the mint. Someone else may have.
But you're talking about a copper-plated, steel cent, correct?
Those are not rare at all. Those are usually made by people outside the mint. Some who are trying to scam people into thinking they have a chance to buy that rare cent, the 1943 copper cent, or by people who, like the ad above, are just selling copper plated steel cents for fun and profit, or just for fun.
Copper plating and silver plating are simple science experiments that you can do at home, easily.

 

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There seem to be some similarities between the two different cents

 

There is nothing in the article that implies that an XRF gun will shoof completely through a coin. And even the manufacturers of the guns will tell you they only penetrate a few 10 thousandths of a inch. It is possible to get a deeper penetration, but it takes equipment a heck of a lot more powerful than a hand held XRF gun.

 

My mother had this coin for over 50 years and i believe it also is the 1943 experimental copper plated steel cent. The detail of design, letters and numbers are sharp. It weighs 2.8g.

 

I don't believe there ever were any experimental copper plated steel cents. Do you have any documentation or evidence?

 

Looks like a normal steel cent.

 

Looks like some kind of acid did that. Not copper plating.

 

Interesting article

 

The problem with acid is that it would have affected the rim. The rim has very little damage. Every corroded zinc plated steel cent that I've seen looks like the coins below.
The rusted zinc plated steel normally rises up out of surface of the coin. The details are not sharp. There is a big difference between my coin and the examples. My coin is the same thickness yet weighs 2.8g. Normal steel cent weighs 2.7g.

 

I sorted thru bags of cents in my childhood years and found several steels in the average bag. They were most always rust covered and very unattractive like the top coin or even much worse. I bought a set of processed for a around 35 cents each for my Whitman folder.

 

There is still no such thing as a copper plated steel experimental cent. Yours is a little heavy but no big deal.

 

There were experimental copper plated steel cent and zinc, antimony and iron coated steel cents produced in 1943 in philadelphia. Where did you read that there were no copper plated steel cents produced in 1943? Not counterfeits, but mint struck.

 

Photo of obverse with color.

 

My apologies, I did some googling and there is at least one known copper plated experimental cent.

 

If I recall correctly, there were 2 different weight specs used for the 1943 steel cents. I think @Conder101 posted this info in the past but I can't find it now (sorry conder if I'm mistaken).

Why do you believe it's an experimental planchet? Do you have any elemental analysis like XRF? The 2.8 gm listed for the single copper plated steel specimen would fall within the tolerance of a normal steel cent, so weight isn't a good indication. You said it weighs 2.8 gms. If your scale only has resolution to 0.1 grams, it could be anywhere from 2.75 - 2.84 gms. That's not the kind of accuracy that proves you have an experimental planchet.

Avery, you have a history of making incredible claims about your finds and then refusing to believe what members tell you. Here is a link that shows how an experimental planchet was authenticated. If you think you have one, this is what you need to do. Just saying it looks different doesn't cut it.

BTW I think you were told that you needed XRF data when you claimed to find other experimental planchets. Why didn't you have it checked before you posted this coin?

https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/1943-lincoln-cent-mostly-tin-and-antimony.html

You may also want to check out this book by @Roger W Burdette

 

I am taking them to have them both analyzed.

 

Avery it is good to see you back on here. I don't know you but I can tell you know quite a bit about error coins. Good luck and stay after it.

 

The least expensive I have seen is
https://www.ebay.com/itm/XRF-METAL-...552457?hash=item4455b2b9c9:g:X40AAOSwmLlX~pJ7

but be sure to understand the instructions and risks involved. I am not associated nor recommending , just information to judge expense, Jim

 

Your not mistaken, the two weight specs were 2.689 grams and 2.754 grams. tolerance for either one was +/- .13 grams. So if they were right on spec and you had a scale accurate to .1 grams the scale would show 2.7 or 2.8 grams respectively. (in grains they were 41.5 gr or 42.5 gr with a tolerance of +/- 2 gr)