So I have been wondering for some time about the newer small cents. We all know they are made from zinc and coated with copper. When does the copper coating take place? Before or after the coin is struck? I ask because I recently came across a zinc planchet that was unstruck and didn't have a copper coating on it. So does this mean that the coins are struck on the zinc planchet and then coated after? Or was this just an error that the planchet didn't get coated beforehand?
The plating takes place after the blanks are punched from the strip, but I believe before they are run through the upsetting machine. So it is roll, punch, plate, upset, and then strike. If I am wrong then plate and upset are reversed.
