There's just a higher percentage of zinc in the plating. The answer to your next question is, "No, it's only worth $.01."
I was thinking the same thing. But after checking a couple of mine the brass cents are more of a golden brown, then the yellow surface that is on the OP's coin.
Thank you for the time and the information. I found the link to be very interesting and makes me want to look further!
I might try to get a better picture of it in different light...but at first glance it does seem very yellow.
Ken Potter my friend ( lol ) . I've live in michigan and hang out at the Coneca table at the local shows ... Send him an email, with obverse and reverse images . Tell him I sent you .
@Rick Stachowski The page that you directed the op to look at says nothing about a 98'D only 98 Philly. are you saying that the 98'd and many other years with this yellow color on them are brass plated cents. Here is one that I found the other day in pocket change it also has the yellow film like color on it.
OK, here I found a penny closer to the year of the 1 in question. So I am posting better pics...hopefully. Rick, I will send these pics over to your friend. Thank you everyone for your thoughts, time, and information.
This is the reason why, we already know this year is out there, never know, new discoveries all the time ..
The brass pennies are complicated because there is also a simple science experiment that produces a similar result. On originally brass colored pennies the color was cause by nickel contamination to the copper coating. I believe the only way to really differentiate the two would be by weight- the ones with an addition coating of metal (science experiment) will weigh slightly more.
The weight difference of the plating will not be outside of normal tolerance on a science experiment coin, so you are stuck with XRD analysis or similar to detect nickel in that low amount.
