1989 Unplated Zinc Lincoln Penny

Discussion in 'What's it Worth' started by Haley_Foxhog, May 8, 2004.

?

Do you think this coin is real?

  1. Yes

    3 vote(s)
    16.7%
  2. No

    3 vote(s)
    16.7%
  3. I don't know

    3 vote(s)
    16.7%
  4. I'd have to see it

    9 vote(s)
    50.0%
  1. Haley_Foxhog

    Haley_Foxhog New Member

    I found this penny and I was wondering if anyone could offer any information on how much this might be worth. It appears to be a regular everyday penny without the copper plating. You can find the pic here if you would like to see it. I don't believe it's been tampered with. If anyone can offer any information it's be greatly appreciated.
     
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  3. pog

    pog New Member

    where is the pic. someone here i am sure can help you with a little bit more info. thanks for posting and welcome.
     
  4. jody526

    jody526 New Member

    Welcome, Haley_Foxhog.

    You might try scraping a little off the edge of the coin. You should see the copper plating underneath.
    Plating coins is a common jr. high school science class experiment.
     
  5. Haley_Foxhog

    Haley_Foxhog New Member

    Sorry, you can find the pic here on my deviantART page
     
  6. Haley_Foxhog

    Haley_Foxhog New Member

    I already did scrape at it, and nothing came off of it so I think it might just be authentic. Still doesn't tell me the value though lol
     
  7. jody526

    jody526 New Member

    Well, if nothing came off, then you didn't scrape it hard enough. lol

    As far as telling you the value, only the person that buys it will be able to do that.
     
    largecent37 likes this.
  8. satootoko

    satootoko Retired

    After looking at your small picture, I voted "I'd have to see it". There simply isn't enough detail in the picture to form any opinion. I'm assuming that the picture's color is off, because I think that if the coin is really that color it's been messed with.
     
  9. Haley_Foxhog

    Haley_Foxhog New Member

    No, you're right it is a really crap happy picture... It's a lot shinier if you see it in person, and actually has more of a silver color to it. I just don't know how to take a better picture of it or else I would have already.
     
  10. tbassco

    tbassco New Member

    1989 unplated penny

    I have just found a 1989 "unplated penny" as well. I was wondering if it could be real or just wear. Mine is not as shiny as your picture but has no evidence of copper plating. Any-hoo, maybe I could retire after all?
     
  11. National dealer

    National dealer New Member

    Well as others have eluded to, many of these coins were altered in High Schools and Middle schools across the country.
    On very rare occasions, the plating can come off of Lincoln cents. If you believe that yours is in this very small case, have it certified.
     
  12. Haley_Foxhog

    Haley_Foxhog New Member

    If I had a clue on where to get it certified, I would. I really can't think of any coin dealers in my area that aren't in pawn shops. Any suggestions?
     
  13. National dealer

    National dealer New Member

  14. joecoin

    joecoin New Member

    If the one cent piece has a "shiny" appearance to it, it has probably been plated, most likely with mercury (don't pu it in your mouth!), possibly with silver or ?.

    If it has a dull gray appearance , it probably has no plating. This is not an uncommon error, howevr, it can be easily faked. I have stripped the plating off a number of zinc Lincolns using electronic circiut board etch (acid).

    You can find many experts at this site:


    http://groups.msn.com/ErrorWorld


    Joe
     
  15. kenneeds

    kenneeds Junior Member

    I also have one of these pennys. I came to this forum to find out what it was. It has no copper. I use pennys for golf ball markers, and this one looked like the war pennys.
    I noticed that on the edges it was shiny steel, not copper.
    The face is blue/gray color.
    Stange looking for a Lincoln 1989 penny.
    Ken Needs
     
  16. jody526

    jody526 New Member

    Hi Ken, and welcome. :)

    Those off color cents are confusing, aren't they?

    One of the most widely asked questions, on coin forums, is "how much is my silver penny worth?"
     
  17. satootoko

    satootoko Retired

    Welcome to the forum Ken. As pointed out in several of the earlier postings on this thread, the current composition of Lincoln cents is copper-plated zinc, and what you are describing sounds exactly like one that has lost its copper plating through chemical or electorlitic means.

    To verify that the" steel" edge isn't, just try to pick the coin up with a magnet.

    -That compostion has been used since mid-1982, and the coins weigh 2.5g instead of the former 3.11g. If the weight of your coin varies substantially from 2.5g, you have something worth further investigation. If not, you have something worth exactly 1¢.
     
  18. trussxx1

    trussxx1 New Member

    Unplated Lincoln Cent

    On 5/22/11 a 1983 Unplated Lincon Cent certified by NGC sold in Teletrade coin auction for $260 adding tax and auction fees the total cost was $355. I personally have 6 unplated lincolns. They are US mint errors Unplated Lincoln.jpg
     
  19. 10gary22

    10gary22 Junior Member

    lOffhand, I would vote for plated. I have found several plated cents while roll searching. My latest one was a gold plated 2001 D. The copper plating on the cent makes it an excellent candidate for plating and an excellent teaching tool

    I don't think it has much added value though
     
  20. zekeguzz

    zekeguzz lmc freak

    For heaven's sake get a magnet and see if is attracted to it. If it is attracted, it is made of some kind of ferrous metal ie: steel, iron, tin. Not like a normal 95%zinc, 5% copper cent.

    Next weigh it, take it to a coin dealer or jeweler. If you don't have a scale get a emery board or some small flat stick about 4 inches, 10 centimeters long and balance two similar cents using a small round pencil or AAA battery. Mark the fulcrum or mid point where the battery was.
    Glue the battery or pencil at that mid point. Next glue one of the cents to one end. After it is set check both cents again for balance. When okay weigh your " unplated cent ". If it is heavier than a normal cent it probably is plated. But if it lighter then you really have something that needs to be sent to a TPG'er, PGS, NGS, ANACS. But this doesn't preclude it is a fake
    yet if it is heavier. The planchette material could make it very unique and rare.

    Don't forget Lincoln cents 1983--2011 weigh 2.5 grams. The 1943 steel coated zinc Lincoln cents 2.7 grams.

    jUST HANDLE WITH TLC!
     
  21. zekeguzz

    zekeguzz lmc freak

    Boy, there's a lot of what ifs about this " silver cent". Such as:
    1) What if it is attracted to a magnetic and it is heavier than 2.5 grams? Say 2.7 to 3.0 grams. What then?

    2) If it is lighter than 2.5 gram and attracted to a magnet, what then? Maybe it is a steelie? Whoa that's big time stuff.

    3) Last case is if it is heavier than 2.5 grams and is NOT attracted by a magnet? Is it Plated or a wrong planchette
    material was used. ???
     
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