Hello, I was searching my couple of usual circulated penny rolls today, and found this...It looks basically like a brass/golden penny. I'm not sure what it is....I'm totally new to coin collecting, and found pennys to be my favorite to search rolls of, but i've never seen this before. Any help or info is appreciated! Thanks! (The scan is of the 2000-D weird penny, compared to a 2006 penny next to it, and the photo's being just the 2000-D Penny).
It looks to me that you have found a penny... Don't see anything special, as I have found pennies that look like this as well. You have just found one in good shape, with good luster, and some nice color to it, is all, just a regular penny, and I'd spend it..
:goof: Ahaha......Stupid me...Thought it was matte finish or something..... Even still, I dont think they're worth anything much. Sorry Still finding out what's something and not.
I think they started doing satin finish coins, in 2005 for mint sets...And it would be weird to ever see those circulating, but hey it could happen, people find proofs all the time. Good luck to you and your collecting, and you can always learn a lot here
Actually, there is something to that coin, but I don't remember what it is. I had one in a TPG holder that had a special designation. I sold it for a really good premium on eBay. I want to say that it had something to do with the surface layer being a slightly different composition than normal copper. I'll try to find out more.
Here we go. This may be what you have. I thought the coin I had was 2000, but I could be wrong. It appears the coins were struck on planchets coated in brass, instead of copper. That's what gives them the dramatic color difference. This article makes reference to 1997-D coins; I don't know if this happened in other years. This text is lifted from an eBay listing (http://tinyurl.com/ms9bjp) : Listed in the "The 2008 Official RED BOOK ~ A Guide Book of Lincoln Cents" Brilliant Uncirculated - fresh from original bank wrapped rolls GREAT COLOR - GREAT PRICE! SATISFACTION GUARANTEED 100%QUALITY 2 Coin Set - Superb Color - Custom Labeled - Great Price Offered is a custom labeled two coin set: one 1997 D Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) Lincoln Memorial Cent that has been struck on a "brass plated" planchet & one struck on a normal red "copper plated" planchet. These anomalies were struck on yellowish / gold tone BRASS planchets, rather than the red "copper planchets" normally seen. You will also receive a 1997 D Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) Lincoln Memorial Cent that has been struck on a normal red "copper plated" planchet for comparison.The new 2008 Official "RED BOOK" (A Guide Book of LINCOLN CENTS) states: (page #275) "these light-colored" cents were inadvertently made with about a 90 percent copper and 10 percent zinc coating (instead of 100 percent copper) due to zinc contamination of the copper plating bath for planchets.Reference to this error can also be seen in Ken Potter's & Brian Allen's book titled "STRIKE IT RICH with Pocket Change" on page 199 & page 254
So they made them in 2000 as well, because I'm seeing all the dates in the 90's for these cents, but none in the 2000's...
I think this is a common high school chemistry experiment. Going from memory, it has something to do with mixing some zinc powder, NaCl and a cent to turn them into "gold" which is really brass. Don't quote me on the chemical components because I don't want anyone to be hurt. Maybe the chemists here can verify.
Got your attention? DO NOT SPEND THAT PENNY. 1st one that made you look, right?:hail: Steelies did that to me in the '50's and I've been enjoying looking @ coinage every since. and keep on looking as long as it's fun.
Ah, thank you for all your help....But I'm only finding 1990's and 80's cents..not 00's....So is it worth doing anything? Getting it graded or such?
why not looks great and its yours to do what you want you decide on grading it yourself first with some help from a book or two. then go from there and let us no what you did :hail:
It happens every year. The way it happens at the planchet manufacturers is that when the zinc planchets are plated some of the zinc does dissolve into the plating solution. Over time the zinc content of the solution keeps increasing. Then as the planchets are plated both copper AND zinc come out of solution and deposit on the surface. A mixture of copper and zinc is brass. The color of the brass varies depending on the ratio of copper and zinc on the surfaces. The more zinc the more yellow the color. Eventually they notice that the planchets are coming out too yellow and they change the plating solution.
