I am looking at a 1944 lincoln penny that struck me as odd. It appears that the die is artificial or some type of spray paint. It seems way too bright to be a penny let alone 60 years old. Is it common for a 44 to be painted over? Thats what my conclusion has come to be, but i have also noticed that in the scrtaches their appears to be no alteration in color. I know i dont have a pic.... i am working on it but im not guarenteeing anything. So as a result i will ask a more general question for pennys, is it common to paint over pennies, and if so how would i detect if it is painted over
Judging by their very infrequent appearance in rolls, bags or boxes of pennies, I'd say it isn't very common. Red paint on nickles and quarters old enough to have been around when every corner drug store had a soda fountain with a juke box, and every corner tavern had coin-operated pool tables, are much more common. The business owner would dab paint on some "house" coins for use in the juke box, pool table, or whatever. Those coins would then be separated out before the take was divided between the coin machine owner and the business owner. If you're satisfied that the coloring has already destroyed the coin's numismatic value, then Scrape it with a fingernail, knife, etc.; or dab a bit of paint remover on it.
You might what to use some acetone instead of cutting into the metal. Make sure to use the acetone in a well ventilated area (outside is best), it will remove any paint. Acetone is extremely flammable so "no smoking" around it. The acetone may take some numismatic value from your find, but scratching it with a knife will certainly kill it.
