1972-S Lincoln

I have a question about the color of the cent on the right. I've never seen a penny of this color and am wondering if it came from the mint this way or was it colored this way at a later date. I scanned a normal looking cent for comparison. Thanks

 

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Can you get a weight....it could be a off metal strike but I'm betting is a platted coin.

Speedy

 

I don't have a scale that will weigh that light. I'm kind of a newbie to this. Can you explain what an off-metal strike is compared to a platted coin. Is either worth anything more then a cent? Thanks a lot.

 

Okay - I did a little research. I'm assuming if the coin is platted, it's not worth much over face. As far as off-metal strikes, is there any precedence for a planchette made of something other then copper making it throguh the minting process?

 

Cents made before 1982 were made from bronze. Cents made after 1982 are made from copper plated zinc. Your coin looks like it has normal toning for a bronze cent.

Charlie

 

Hey Charlie....would there be that much bronze to make it look like this?

PSU Alum.....there are many times when a foreign planchet gets struck...the US mint has struck coins for not only the US but many other places and their planchets are not the same as the US.

As for a weight....a jewley store would be the place to go....

But I'm willing to trust Charlie...he has a good eye from what I've seen and he is more than likely right here.

Speedy

 

It looks like your coin might have some doubling on the 2 in the date. Does it look like that in hand?

Charlie

 

Charlie - I thought cents that were struck pre-1982 were 90% copper and 10% zinc. This would be more similar to brass which is 50% copper and 5-20% zinc. Isn't bronze is an alloy of copper and tin? I don't notice any doubling on the 2 in-hand.

I am a beginner, but this doesn't look like toning to me, the color seems to be pretty uniform. Also, I've never noticed any older coins toned like this, if that is what it is.

 

Pre 1982 cents were made from 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc.

If you look on the high points of your coin, you can see how some of the toning has worn off.

Charlie

 

Charlie, I'm not disagreeing with you that it is toning. I still haven't made up my mind, but here is a link from the mint web site. 1962 was the last bronze penny. They took out the tin that year. Were the San Fran coins still made with tin in 1972?

http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/fun_facts/index.cfm?action=fun_facts2

 

Oops, my mistake, they did remove the tin in 1962.

Charlie

 

I'm still thinking plated...if you have time this week try a jewley store...and ask them to weight the coin....they should be glad to for free.

Speedy

 

Speedy - correct me if I'm wrong - if it weighs more then 3.1 grams, it's most likely plated?

 

It should weight about 2.5 grams....search the forum...there have been ways to make your own home made scale....

Speedy

 

Speedy - I thought the post-1982 coins weighed 2.5 and prior years weighed 3.1. Are you sure about the 2.5 for a 1972 penny? This is info that I've gleaned from various internet sites over the last few days.

To get back to my original question - if this coin does happen to be an off-metal strike - is it worth anything?

 

I weighed a couple, and you are correct; a 1972 cent should weigh 3.1 grams.

If your coin was a off-metal strike, it would be worth a lot.
Charlie

 

Thanks Charlie - will PCGS evaluate the coin for me? If it is off-metal, it might not weigh 3.1 anyway. What's the best way to figure out the composition? Obviously, I don't want to scrape the surface. I don't even want to try rubbing of the plating - if that's what it is.

Really appreciate your help by the way.

 

Sending it to PCGS would cost a lot.

If you take it to a coin or jewelry shop, they should be able to weigh it for you.

Charlie

 

Looking at the Red Book a coin after 1962 should be 2.5 grams...from 1959-1962 they were 3.11 grams....
If it is an off metal strike....the weight would tell....if it is just plated or toned....then the weight would also tell because it would weight the same just look funny.

PCGS would cost too much....your best bet is to get that weight.

Speedy

 

The Red Book isn't very clear on this. I weighed a couple from 1962-1981 with my scale, and they weigh 3.1 grams.

Charlie