Zinc Pennies!

Hey there guys and gals, been more of a reader than a responder lately on the forums, but I feel this is my time to show a couple of my favorite lincolns! Both have been weighed and verified as zinc, 2.5g, and undoubtedly in great condition. I however, have never asked what the value of these two are, and I'm fairly curious if anyone can throw me a ballpark estimate? Thanks and enjoy!





If anyone needs, I own an 800x microscope so I can get real close if you ask!

 

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They both may have been altered chemically. The weight and appearance of the fields indicate that to me. I'm thinking that a true unplated planchet would weight in at about 2.4g.

 

Also, wouldn't zinc (in a 2x2) begin to oxidize after 20 years? The only zincs that stay bright are the reprocessed 1943's.

 

Being that I have Never taken them out of their protectors, I'm not willing to risk it. However when it was weighed in front of me, 2.4-2.5 was going back and forth? It was a tents scale, not hundredths. Thats why I need a professional to open and rewiegh it. Also, if it was chemically altered, why can't I see any bubbling/weird features, or maybe point out what's catching your eye?

One more thing, on the reverse of the 1985 D, the "S and O" in States of America is worn down a bit, meaning this could have been in circulation for a little before being scooped up? I was hard to not use too much light or too little light to capture a good picture of these. Maybe I will try natural sun light later when I get home from work.

Thanks for your replys so far!

 

Looks like you're less than two hours from PCGS (Thousand Oaks to Newport Beach). Why don't you simply have them graded (while you wait?), that will end all the mystery one way or the other, and if genuine, then they are ready to sell or consign.

 

The hard part about something like this is it is very possible for someone to chemically remove the copper layer after the fact. Its a matter of proof. How can it be PROVED the copper was not chemically removed?

That is the crux of it. If there is a way to prove that, then you could be fine. I am just unaware of it.

Btw, if in circulation you would think the whole coin would show signs, not just a letter. Maybe that letter was where the copper plating was a touch thicker, and when removed now looks like a weak strike. Just postulating.

 

Doug thats a great idea. Thanks for the heads up about PCGS being in Newport. I will surely head down there ASAP.

And Medoraman, that is a good point about there being more wear on the coin. I will surely take Doug's advice and take it to PCGS.

I can't find a good source of information for zinc pennies(trustworthy and factual). Can anyone post a link or pics of theirs possibly? Thanks!

 

They look good to me. Proper luster. A very thin plating might be able to retain the luster. I see no plating bubbles. As for oxidation if they are properly stored they can remain unoxidized. There are mint state 1943 steel cents with full unoxidized brightness are there not? (Not reprocessed)

As for the weak S O look at a large number of Memorial cents and you will find that weakness in this area is not uncommon and it is due to striking.

 

A sense of hope! Haha Thanks for your input Conder. However, don't get me wrong, I still enjoy people being optimistic about a coin and discussing ways it could be legit or not.

 

Also, Look on the reverse of the 1989 and you should see a little bit of toning/coloring? Am i wrong or right?

And remember, I have an 800x microscope if anyone wats a closer-up image of any portion of the coin. I'm at work now but i can surely do in later this afternoon.

And Doug, I'm going to PCGS later this week, alread made the date.

 

They look good to me. I hope you do remember to post if you do get them graded. I would be very interested to know 1 way or the other. Some pictures taken with the microscope would be nice. and maybe help me see if it has been chemically treated. I think inside of letterng would be particularly interesting.

 

Typically coins that have had the copper stripped will leave the zinc discolored, dull, and usually roughened with no luster.

 

Is that true of items like cents with such a microscopic layer of copper? I would think since the copper is so thin, and zinc so mallable that the striking would also create a layer of luster in the zinc itself.

Just asking.

I could very well see that outcome on a thicker plated coin.

 

I don't think it's that thin. Heat a zincoln, and the zinc will melt or even boil out, leaving a distorted but intact copper shell. If it's thick enough to stay together as the zinc escapes, it's thick enough to obscure flow patterns, I'd think.

 

I have a 1983 Unplated cent, NGC MS and it's surface is just fine, but the colour is flat and a little darker, almost oxidized looking. IMO, that cent is altered.

 

I just filled out the submission form to PCGS so I'll surely be sendin it out tomorrow and I will surely let you all know the outcome!

 

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1262456/make_a_gold_penny/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g_ml8tAnWE


http://science.wonderhowto.com/how-to/turn-penny-into-gold-with-common-chemicals-272618/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Gold-And-Silver-Pennies/


This is a common experiment in middle and beginning high school chemistry classes. It is in 3 different mass produced lab manuals. I am not saying this is what happens to yours,

But the probability is higher than any other reason.

The layer conforms closely to the coins surface if recent BU, and will vary due to the quantity of reactants, so as in the top example, some of the copper tends to show through.

Several have noted on their own utubes of their experiment that they have sold them to their friends for $10-30.

You might want to make some yourself for comparison before spending money on TPG grading. IMO.

Jim

 

Just found the same experiments site;
http://www.instructables.com/id/Turn-Copper-Pennies-into-Silver-and-Gold-Chemistr/

 

Thanks for the links guys, and that's a pretty cool trick, however here's my question for y'all.
Zinc pennies alone weigh between 2.4-2.5g as previously stated, so with that being kept in mind, do these copper pennies they make "silver" still weigh out to 3-3.1g? You may be able to change the apprearance, however weight seems to be harder to get down than coloring, if that makes sense. Mine looks like zinc, and weighs out to what a zinc one would.
In this video, it show's him changing a color, but not the weight. Thoughts?

 

I am a little confused. I assumed you were talking about the posted cents in the first post which were past 1982 when all cents should weigh 2.5 +/- .1 gram tolerance. Since these zinc core/copper clad cents were already 2.5 g, any of the chemical treatments ( listed above URL) would not increase the weight beyond tolerance, actually much less than a .1 gram. So weight for a normal 1985 copperclad zinc cent would weigh the "same" as a chemical zinc coated-copperclad zinc cent. The experiment shown may have used a pre -1982 cent, but it doesn't matter as the post 1982 cents have a pure copper outer layer thaat reacts better than a 95% pre-1982 "copper" cent.

Jim