What is the deal with this "Yellow Jacket" cent?

Aren't these common?
I am guessing this is a marketing gimmick?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/yellow-penny.296959/

The official explanation is that the planchets were overheated during annealing, resulting in zinc migrating into the copper

 

I think you're right!

Chris

 

If that's the case then it's a stinger!

 

How interesting! I had first initially read, as ANACS noted on the slab, that these coins had another layer of brass plated on top, but now I see it was the result of zinc dissolving in the plating solution! How intriguing it is, that these errors were produced by the same method that the typical high-school chemistry experiment operates on.

 

What is a stinger?

 

Slang name for a bee, hornet, wasp and yellow jacket

 

Not slang Rather, yellow jackets are wasps and differ from bees in a number of ways. The bodies of bees are fuzzier and more round in shape, while yellow jackets are smoother and thinner. Yellow jackets’ bodies are narrower between the thorax and abdomen. they are common here in Missouri, my high school football team was the yellow jackets.

 

Only reason it matters, are people are allergic to some venom, not others, mom has to take a shot if she gets stung.

 

I'd like to know how they determined it was Brass. Coloration? That's subjective and can be influenced by other environmental conditions. XRF? While this is normally considered a surface measurement, the XRay beam penetrates deeper than the approx. 8 micron thick copper plating and will pick up the zinc core as part of the analysis.

I don't doubt that there are brass plated cents based on the process. I have a few that I set aside back in the 80's that exhibit the brassy color and I'm sure have zinc in the plating. However, how can you say for certain? Is this just a "trust me" thing from ANACS?

 

brass composition is merely copper and zink mixed.

 

I wouldn't say that they are extremely common. Certain years get attributed because there are more of them. 97 and 98 are also known to have too much zinc in the copper coating.

 

You've never been stung by a yellow jacket?

 

Thank you.

 

From @Autoturf
brass composition is merely copper and zink mixed

===========================
Understood. However, my question is how can you prove it’s brass? Too many environmental factors can affect the color. Even the amount of zinc in the alloy can influence color. Is the color change due to zinc, or is it environmental?

I don’t dispute brass plated Zlincolns exist. Based on the process and the learning curve during a large scale manufacturing start up, one would be foolish to believe that they don’t exist. But once again, how is ANACS confirming this error other than “trust me, I know it when I see it”.

 

XRF analyzer I would guess. ANACS is one of the top grading companies, I would think their determinations are credible.

 

Don't forget the Carpenter Bee they drill perfect holes..

 

They carry a little hammer.

 

Oh, yeah. There are two ways to kill them. But first if all they don't sting.
Here is the first depending on the infestation your elbow will definitely feel it. The best way is this Spray all the holes. Believe me they will find another place for their home

 

While XRF is considered a surface analysis, the XRay penetration depth is greater than the approx. 8 micron thick copper plating. This will result in the instrument detecting energy from Zn in the core. In order to show that the plating is brass, you need to show that Zn is present. There is no way to differentiate if the detected Zn is in the Cu plating or if it’s from the core. That’s the problem. So you're basically stuck on a subjective color observation to determine if it's brass.