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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Oldhoopster, post: 2688210, member: 84179&quot;]The key is the poor, beat up condition.&nbsp; Since 1982 (some 82&#039;s are copper), Cents are made from Zinc with a thin copper shell.&nbsp; If the copper coating is breached, the zinc will begin to corrode.&nbsp; You can see all of the corrosion around the lower part of the obverse rim and reverse.&nbsp; The zinc has already chemically reacted so it is no longer silver.</p><p><br /></p><p>The &quot;splash&quot; behind the MM is also corrosion.&nbsp; When the coin is stamped with the die, metal flows into the recesses, which is what we see as the raised areas of the coin.&nbsp; As the metal flows into these areas, the copper shell can stretch and become thinner.&nbsp; This is especially true when it must flow into sharp, 90 degree angles like the date and MM.&nbsp; Since the copper is pretty thin to begin with, it is not unusual to see small and/or microscopic breaks in the copper, exposing the zinc to corrosion.&nbsp; Just like rust on a car, once the zinc starts to corrode, it will eat away under the copper.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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