Here are a couple of coins from my friends collection, he just had these laying around as "extras" cause they didn't do anything for him. Thought I would get some opinions. especially on the cent. The cent looks like it was a planchet without the copper layer, how would I tell for sure if it was faked or not? The detail is really good on it and the fields are fairly reflective if that is any indicator. Also, hard to see but the one jefferson has some woodgrain toning, as well as that corrosion starting on the upper right, should I do anything to stop that? And finally I think an improperly annealed jefferson. its pretty dark and glossy, I also have a half of an original 53p jeffersons that are nearly as dark
any advice on at least that lincoln cent? It is a 1970D if that makes a difference. I would like to know how to tell if it is just missing the copper layer or if someone made that coin, how would I tell? Should I start a new thread on that?
That Lincoln is sure unique because in 1970 they didn't apply a copper layer. The coin was 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc. Maybe it's completely tin and zinc. How much does it weigh? Hopefully somebody else will have a more definitive answer.
D'oh! should have thought about that with my set of all the 82 varieties from when they changed it over. I dont have an accurate scale and I know it isn't scientific but it feels "right" and is the same thickness as any other penny I put it beside. Like I said it has a reflective field and the details are pretty full.
I asked my friend where he got it he said he pulled it out of circulation a long time ago, don't know if that helps at all.
I was originally thinking it was galvanized but wouldn't it have a dull hazy surface instead of being relatively lusterous?
The 1970 cent was probably part of a little experiment, I'll admit I've done it a few times myself . Here's the vid Make Gold And Silver Pennies - Video
Yea, thats what I am thinking to, we also did the one where we disolved the zinc core out of one and jut left copper foil. But from what I remember the ones we did were real waxy and they didn't look very shiny but flat. Thats why I was wondering about this one because it really looks like it was struck, it isn't grainy at all either. Most likely it is because I can't think of any other reason they would have a zinc planchet back then and it for sure isn't from a dime.
I'm not sure, but I also think it depends on how clean the coin is, and fine the zinc is. The ones I used came out nice and shiny. LOL I can still remember how excited I was when I found a "gold penny" in change.
Hi, The first cent was plated outside the Mint. It has no value other than one cent. The first nickel may be on a planchet where the alloy ended up a little dark. Not unusual in the mid to late fifties with U.S. five cent coins. The second nickel could have been struck on a planchet made of a poorly mixed alloy but is more likely a victim of what we call environmental damage. A few ways that that occurs, for example would be being buried and found again by a metal detectorist. Being in a "fountain" or pool of a mall where the chemicals in the water damage the coin. Or even something as simple as spilling a soda on a coin. You won't believe the kind of rot that eventually causes. In any case. The third one is just damaged. Thanks, Bill
Thanks, that's pretty much what I figured, I thought the striations on the last nickel kind of interesting, I saw a woodgrain toned lincoln before. I will pass that on to my friend, Im sure he will still hold onto them.
