Silver-colored 2006 Penny

found this in pocket change: a very white (silver) penny. what is it and what's it worth, if anything. thanks.

 

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We get these here regularly and the answer always seems to be that the clad part has come off,exposing the zinc core BUT...I've never seen one with that much detail.I'll be anxious to see what CladKing and others have to say.You won't have to wait long.

 

From the Cent's appearance (shiny and strong strike), it may have been struck on a Zinc planchet that failed to receive the Copper coating! If this is the case and verified, the Cent would fetch a fairly nice premium!

 

I hate to sound like the novice that i am, but how is the verified and what is a 'fairly nice premium'? the cashier at the store must have pulled if from the dime drawer, so, i'm already down 9 cents(!)

 

You could take the coin to a reputable Coin Dealer and ask their opinion! The Coin Dealer can weigh the coin to see if it is a little light in weight which would be expected if the Copper coating is missing. In hand, the Coin Dealer (if knowlegeable in such Mint errors) would be able to determine if the Copper coating was removed by acid or other means or if there is a high probability that the planchet never received the Copper coating. Also, you could take the coin to a Coin Show and ask the opinion of a Coin Grading Service Representative or send the coin in to a Coin Gradiing Service Company.

First and foremost, place the coin in a coardboard/mylar 2x2 or other coin holder to preserve it's pristine condition as Zinc does not react kindly to the enviroment.

 

Acid would have eaten the zinc very quickly, remember making hydrogen in science class? I am fairly certain that it is a planchet defect . Good coin to get certified.

 

I think that it most probably, possibly, without a doubt, most likely an unplated zinc cent.
[is that enough hedging for everyone?]
Seriously, I don't think that it was stripped of the plating, there is no evidence of etching from the acid, and the strike is full.
Forget the 9 cents, you'll probably do very well with this one.

 

maybe its spraypaint? i got this spray chrome stuff and thats what it looks like

 

I NEVER thought of that, hmm.....gotta try it.

 

Too bad it's not dated 1974!

 

There could be a chance---though I would say is really slim---even slimmer than some ideas but could it be a cent struck on a dime stock?
I've never heard of one and I guess there is a good reason for that--but in my books I can't find a reason why it could not happen---I agree---get the weight of the coin and let us know

Speedy

 

I wouldn't worry about the 9 cents.


If that is a genuine planchet error then it's definitely a keeper!!

 

The color looks perfect for pure zinc. I also like the slight copper coloring near 'IN', like there was a little copper on the die.

 

Speedy:
They exist: cent on dime stock, I have a quarter on nickel stock.
However, one way to spot the possibility of off stock is that the strike will be weak-- since the planchet is smaller than usual it would have to spread out to fill the die space and then would be thinner, thereby leaving a weak strike effect.

Off metal coins are not uncommon, but can only occur with a small coin to a larger one: for example: dime planchet struck as a cent; quarter on nickel stock, etc.

 

Frank--your right about the strike and I should have thought about that myself---

I agree with that when talking about a wrong planchet---but when talking about a wrong stock I disagree---a wrong stock error happens when the wrong type of metal is fed into the machine that punches out the banks to be made into planchets--therefor the blanks and planchets are the right size---as the normal coin---just the wrong thickness <sp?>

The thing that gets me about this con---isn't zinc darker?

Speedy

 

Speedy:
You, of course are correct, I meant to say wrong planchet, wrong stock is when quarter size planchets are punched from sheets meant for dimes.
I don't know about the color.

 

looks like just zinc too me

 

i don't have a scale, so, i guess i'll try and get it weighed...

 

How come nobody has mentioned electroplating?

 

Speedy,

Only after it has reacted to things in the enviroment! Zinc is a quite bright and shiny when first smelted into sheets or other products but does not fair well with things in the enviroment and fairly quickly begins to turn darker and darker with time. The coin must have been rolled fairly soon after being struck and remained in the roll into the Cashier at the store opened the roll for use and gave it to rkoustas in change.