Today I got another '43 steel penny to add to my small collection (4th one). When I opened it, I noticed that it had a few "spots" on it. Upon closer examination, the spots appear depressed into the surface with the middle raised. It's kind of hard to see, but what do you think it is? Gas bubbles? The penny appears to be BU or AU. Thanks!
that's neat! they all seem to dip in and have a bubble sticking out of the middle... the way steel drips when cut with a torch.... just thinking out loud.... lets see what the others think
Could be rust popping through on a refurbished steel cent. Folks take beat up steel cents, clean them up then recoat them in zinc so they look new. Sometimes people do a really good job at it so you can hardly tell it has been done unless you're looking for it. I love original steel cents though. Here's my best, it's a PCGS MS67:
IMO this is probably the correct answer. Coins where the zinc coating had been breached, then replated. Most often called reprocessed.
Sometimes with coated steel, the underlying steel will start to corrode, causing the plating to buckle. Same thing happens with aluminum. However, I've never seen it on a steel/zinc cent before, but that was my first thought upon seeing the coin....
