Hello, So I’ve been keeping ALL of my change for the past 4 years now ever since I learned about error coins and other valuable coins found in circulation. I literally have boxes on top of boxes filled with coins. Some are just mixed together that I’ve been meaning to go through one of these days and some I nicely organized and put aside for different reasons. I know finding an error coin isn’t easy and the chances are slim to none but it doesn’t hurt to take a closer look right? With that being said I have a bunch of coins I thought about getting graded and even more coins I’m iffy and not so sure about so, I figured I would ask you for your opinion since I’m pretty sure everyone here is more experienced than I ever will be. I’m learning as I go so it would help a lot if somebody could tell me what’s wrong with the coin so next time around when I see it I know right away and don’t waste time staring at for hours. I keep all of my wheat Penny’s found in circulation nicely organized. Majority is pretty beat up with some in pretty good condition. I have this 1910 wheat penny that’s very hard to read with a naked eye and the only way I could see anything was when I either took a picture of the coin or used a magnifying microscope. I put the coin on the scale and it said it weighed 2.93g. The picture doesn’t show the coin’s true color as it is more red in person. So my question is would it be possible the coin was struck on a wrong planchet or environmental damage and over the years wear could cause the coin to weigh less than it should?
The 3.11 weight that is given as the weight of a cent for that era , but there are also normal variations that the government set at +/- .13grams so a new mint cent up to can weigh between 2.98 grams and 3.24grams and be normal. Also measuring devices such as you show also have variations +/- of accuracy ( which some companies do list , but most do not as they are less accurate.). That is for a new mint issued coin and it only takes a little wear to get below that, and it is hard to determine the original weight of a coin based on a "worn" basis. official weight for 1943 zinc coated cents is 2.70 +/- and " " current copper plated zinc cents is 2.5 +/- Jim
Without Full Image full photos of the obverse and reverse of the coin, we won't be able to give you more information than the above posts.
It may have been a slightly light weight coin when first issued. Now it’s a well circulated coin that’s 112 years old. Not in bad shape for it’s age but it has been circulated. Not an error of any kind.
