I dont know if its worth bringing up, but look at how right next to lip it looks raised. PMD? Also, do the newer pennies have an alloy core? I have one thats been sscratched and it shows a nickel color..... Your thoughts?
I'm also curious as to what the deal is with this type of penny, I have one also. If yours is similar to mine you'll notice that the thickness of the coin itself varies significantly as you look at the edge while rotating it. That region near the outer edge from about 9:00 to 12:00 is probably where your piece becomes a lot thicker? I don't think it's PMD... It's not like someone hit it with a hammer and bent the coin. It looks like when it was struck it didn't hit the planchet evenly or something? Again, I'm here to know the answer from the experts too. Regardless of what causes this, I'm sure it's not worth very much at all. edit: And in regards to your 'nickel' colored scratched penny, yes, post 1982 pennies are essentially zinc slugs coated in copper, not really an alloy but definitely not primarily copper. Whether the scratch is PMD or a lamination error is something that can only be determined through some photos
Your right yours sounds like mine. Even if its not worth much, Im still keeping it. Its good to say the Gov. screwed up!!! Do you think you could post a pic of your penny? Thanks again!
My camera is currently out of commission (little sister dropped it), but I can assure you it looks very similar, it has that odd little... lustrous arc? I don't know how to describe it, but it has that weird look along the edge due to the distortion of the penny's thickness. Mine is a 1987, and at it's largest thickness it's comparable to that of a nickel (although it's slightly thinner)
Is it? it looks alot different from others ive seen, but then again, im a rookie and not an expert, thanks for your take on it.
Im still gonna hang on to it..... Anyone know if the new pennies (1990+) have a nickel alloy core in it?
I've also come across an awful lot of them. There have been threads in the past about them and I can't recall exactly the cause (coop will know off the top of his head) but they are common. I saved about 400-500 of them before I just rolled them up and cashed them in. I still see them occasionally while roll hunting.
Are we talking about a "weird edge" (as stated in the original post) or a "weird rim"? There is a difference.
Rim..... my termanology is not great..... If you say thats common for the 80's that makes sense, mine is an '88............
sINCE 1982 Lincoln Cents have been zinc cores with copper plating. As for the weird edge, its perfectly normal. I don't know the exact cause but there are millions of them, you just happened to notice one. Coin/Variety/Error collecting and reselling does that to you. It makes you actually LOOK at coins with a discerning eye. Each disk is examined and actually "analyzed" for possible error's and varieties. Do so, brings up questions such as the OP asked. It also brings up answers such as "it's perfectly normal". Head over to the mint error boards at http://board.conecaonline.org/forumdisplay.php?f=4 and ask there. I'm sure you'll get the same answers but with a little more detail.
