3.4 gram copper cent?

I was just confused because you said it if it was a foreign planchet then it wouldn't be the same diameter as a U.S. cent. I have a 72 LC that weighs 2.5g I was going to send in to see if I had one (struck on foreign planchet) and I almost just got talked out of it lol

 

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Yes the Panama and Bahama coins are the same size and weight as US (intentionally). But all the others are different (supposed to be) so that lesser valued coins can't be used here. If it was on a Panama planchet, IDK how they would be able to tell the difference if the metal content, size and weight are the same.

Well the 72 should weigh 3.11
But post a photo. I have some like that that have been altered smaller, and I have 1 I believe may be on a foreign planchet. Try to find out what foreign coins we were minting in 1972 and if they weigh 2.5 g.
And if it is a Philly or Denver, and which mint was making foreign coins.
IDK but if your coin is a "D" and we only minted foreign coins in Philly, then it is unlikely. So we need to know what countries (if any) we were minting coins in 1972, how much they weighed, and which mint they were produced at. The information is out there but it takes some digging.
The one I have is a 1972-D 2.6g. But I thought they made the foreign stuff at Philly. (Not sure)

 

From what I can see, they did mint the 1 centismo in 1972 at Philly, but the coin was 95% copper 5% zinc and weighed 3.11g 19mm. Same size, weight, metal composition as the LC. So as I said before, how can you tell if it is a Panama planchet or an LC planchet, if they are exactly the same?
The 2.5g weight would indicate it's something else.

 

I has seen a graded one under the sold listings on ebay that was struck on centismo planchet 2.5g. that was a couple years ago. it's also coincidental that on the back of mine there appears to be a grayish look to it in some areas but it could be crud too.

 

you can see the color difference left of E Pluribus Unum...through "OF" and under states.

 

Perhaps they changed the centismo when the US went to the 2.5g zinc cent in 1983. Are you saying this coin was struck over a centismo? That's not the same thing as being struck on a centismo planchet, which is identical to a Lincoln cent planchet.
The 1972 Lincoln cent and 1972 Panama 1 centismo is a 3.11 gram copper coin.
It is possible that this coin was struck on a thinly rolled planchet, and that would account for it being 2.5 grams.
Stack it with some other copper cents and photo the edge.

 

They made foreign coins at all three mints, but usually not the same coin at all three at the same time. In 1972 Denver made coins for
Honduras 5 centavos same size and composition as a US nickel
Liberia 5 cents same composition as US nickel slightly smaller at 19.9 mm and 4.15 grams
Liberia 1 cent same composition as US cent 2.6 grams 17.9 mm This sounds like it could be your coin.
Phillipines 1 peso 70% copper 18% zinc 12% nickel 14.5 grams 33.8 mm
Phillipines 10 Sentisimo same comp as the Peso 2 grams 17.9 mm
Phillipines 5 Sentisimo 60% copper 40% zinc 2.5 grams 18.4 mm This could also be your coin.

 

ty for that very informative info. I believe it may be the last one because I remember seeing 5 and something that resembled centasmo, centismo, sentisimo, which ever it was. like I said it was a couple years ago I saw it. sending it out this week and soon I will know for sure

 

why do we make planchets for other countries?

 

Probably for the same reason we now have cent planchets made for our mint it was cheaper and easier than making them themselves. We had excess capacity at the time and they didn't so they contracted with us to make them. Same for making the coins. Some countries don't have their own mints and contract out their coin production. In some cases during the second world war we produced coinage for other governments in exile

 

Ooh that is awesome. I have a 1972-D that weighs 2.6, and I suspect foreign planchet. I didn't know they made them in Denver. Thanks for the information.

 

17.9 mm is the diameter of a dime so the coin will be smaller than a regular cent and I would expect missing details and possibly missing rims at least in some areas.

 

That is exactly what it looks like. The letters are cut in half at the rims.

 

1972-D 2.6 grams. I realize it could still be PMD, but it is the correct weight, correct size and the correct year and mint.

 

Your coin is definitely PMD. If it was an error the coin would not look filed. It looks like cents I find in dime rolls all filed down.

 

From the way it looks I would agree with NLL it looks like a coin that has been ground down to try and pass for a dime. Try looking as the edge of the coin. Is it rough or smooth. If this was a foreign planchet the edges pre-strike would be smooth just like you would see on a cent blank planchet, and they would still be smooth post strike. If it has been filed or ground down it should be apparent on the edge.

 

I really don't get why people do things like file down pennies to put into dime rolls. Is $.09 really worth the effort?

 

Depends on when it was done. Dimes used to have more purchasing power than they do now. Back in the early 60's a dime had the purchasing power that a dollar does now. And if you wer a kid with nothing better to do and very little money, then yes it could be a worthwhile passtime.

 

I have other ones similar to this that are filed down. This one prob is, but it looks better in hand than the others. Some of the edges are most likely filed down and my original thought was PMD. It was just a nice coincidence to have the correct year,
mint, size and weight for a Liberian planchet.

 

if you REALLY want to be sure before spending it... send it in for $4.