I came across this at work not paying attention when I was given it. Someone gave it to me as a dime, so that’s what I thought it was closing down at the end of the night turned out to be a penny. Is it worth anything?
First @Xcarolinex , welcome to the neighborhood! We see images of similar pennies quite often. They have always been the result of the coin being dipped is some sort of solution. As a young teen in the early 60's, it was commonplace for us to conduct science experiments by dipping pennies into mercury to produce such an effect. Of course today, we know how dangerous mercury can be. So, other solutions are used to produce this effect. Now, if the penny had been struck in 1944, it might be an entirely different situation. Chris
It looks like it was plated after it left the mint. Plating cents is an easy science experiment for High School Chemistry. Here is just one of many do DIY science projects for plating coins. https://www.sciencecompany.com/Turn-Copper-Pennies-Into-Silver-and-Gold-Pennies.aspx
It doesn't look plated to me. That looks like original mint luster. You may have an unplated cent there. I would investigate further.
Based on what I can see in the two photos, it's probably plated. It doesn't have the luster it should if it were struck on an unplated zinc planchet.
Some say plated.. Some say missing copper layer.. Interesting Cent Better pictures with brighter lighting would help. I was just going to mention unless Fred chimes in.. And he did!
Please do not mail the coin to me. If original poster would like to share larger photos of both sides of the coin, I'll (and all of us) will be glad to view them. Or, they can submit it to NGC, PCGS, or ANACS if they'd like.
You will need clear detailed photos, crop them,then once the photo is uploaded click full size image before posting them.