Has anyone come across a penny that looks to be brass or a much yellower copper? I've been hanging on to a 1983 that I got from the bank for over ten years. It looks as if it is thinly clad in brass. It really stands out, but it's hard to get my camera to show the actual color.
The planchet was plated in a bath of copper that was diluted by zinc. I don't think these command any major premium at all, if any... I've seen and tossed back hundreds as I've gone through boxes of cents.
It just looks like chemical rinse causing die deterioration altered the color a bit. The value is not increased by this process. -Brian
According to Ken Potter (Koinpro.tripod.com) who is a leading expert in error coins: 1983 "Brass Plated Strikes" 1c 1983 cents struck on "brass plated planchets" were confirmed by the Mint officials and that information published in Coin World's, May 23, 1983 Collector's Clearinghouse written by Marilyn Van Allen). These are very similar to the 1985-D "brass plated strikes" offered below but these seem to be of a plating composition closer to the type of brass known as Tombac (being almost iridescent yellowish-green rather than the solid yellow of th1985-D issue). They were also issued in 1985-D, 1997 and 1997-D, and 1998 so you are correct. They are a different composition. On Ken's website he is selling them from $25 to over $150 (depending on grading, etc). Hope you kept it! Franny
