I was just wondering what was done to this Indian Head Penny. I would assume that it has been cleaned but still it wouldn't have this much luster to it. It is extremely worn but I still have never seen an Indian Head this tone before. The scratches that show up on the pictures are just from the holder. It almost looks like it was buffed, the pictures are really bad but the coin looks gold with no small details left on the coin. Just trying to figure out why it looks like this, Thank you.
That is one harshly cleaned and/or highly polished IHC. Any numismatic value that it may have had is now gone.
Looks like someone used an eraser on it, which will make these well worn old pennies out shine the sun.
Gold plated old Indian Head cents are commonly available on Ebay - that may be what it is. http://www.ebay.com/itm/TEN-10-24k-GOLD-PLATED-INDIAN-HEAD-CENT-PENNY-1c-COIN-/251036520136?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item3a72f14ec8#ht_3981wt_952