1973 Huge Error

Has anyone seen an error like this? I just found this the other day in my pocket change.

 

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need better shot

 

Ok, I'll see if I can do better. I'm slightly new at this...

 

1973?
Looks more like a 1983 Copper Plated Zinc Cent with a plating blister

These plating bubbles are common on the D mint mark. nothing really major.

 

Yes, zinc deterioration beneath the copper plating.

 

not an error, not a 1973, its a 1983 with zinc rot.. spend it..

 

Looks like a 1983 cent with a bad case of zinc rot.

 

Not the best photo, and a close up
would be helpful, but it looks more
than just a copper plating bubble -
looks damaged to me, and cleaned.

 

1983-D with a unique plating blister. Worth maybe as high as a buck to a collector of sorts.

Welcome to CT.

 

a buck! for a zinc rotted cent??? OMG! seriously??

 

Its a '73, I have to take another pic of it but I have to do it with my phone so it'll take a few min.

 

They didn't make copper plated zinc cents in 1973.. Thats a huge plating bubble. Copper plated zinc cents started mid 1982.. So its a 1983 you have there since you can see the top loop of the 8

 

Crap, I was looking at the wrong one. I'm wrong. It's a 1983. Sorry.

 

I have hundreds of them I have found metal detecting.. I can make a fortune!

I keep all of the damages cents I have found over the past 8 years of detecting in a separate container

 

Fred, yes to cleaned. By the look of the pink color,
it was cleaned with Tarn-X or ketchup...

How do I know? Let's just say I made mistakes
early in my collecting before I knew better...Spark

 

and I've made mistakes after I knew better!

 

We'd still like to see a better photo of the date/mm area.

Most replies see it as a copper plating bubble - I'm not
sure, but a closer photo would be very helpful

 

Before you eat anything, better get those hands clean!

 

Zinc rot. It may have started as a plating blister, but more likely the plating split at the edge of the MM when struck, which is common on the early Zincolns. Over time, the zinc under the plating oxidized or reacted with something and expanded. (Same thing happens to a car when rust forms and causes the paint to bubble up). The color also looks like it's been cleaned or soaked in something which could have also initiated the zinc rot.