1984 Steel penny

I found this role searching and it does not look like a normal penny. Please help me identify it.


Pictures taken on macro, flash OFF with natural sunlight on my windowsill.

 

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I was the 12,001 poster in US Coins forum.

 

Ok. Your penny was never supposed to be like that, but it probably was never plated with copper when it left the mint. It is a common variety, because they only had a small copper plating. It is worth a couple of dollars. The other situation could be that someone could have altered the metal, (with mercury) and if so, that coin is not worth much value. (Face Value).

I hope this helps!

 

Hey a dollar is better than a penny!

 

IMO, and I could be wrong, that it was either in the dirt for awhile, or it's just toning. I could be wrong though. Keep searching. :thumb:

Phoenix

 

This video was mentioned on another thread and explains how to turn a cent into either a "silver" cent or a gold "cent". Seems to be a common chemistry experiment these days. Quite interesting, and might explain their presence.

Jim

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

 

Pretty cool , now to make millions on fleabay .:thumb:
rzage:eat:

 

I have a 1983-D that is just the same. It was probably acid treated

 

it's either a mint error (not being plated before release) or a post mint unplating job.

 

It's a post mint unplating job. Or a genuine non-plated one that has been corroded so that it can no longer be recognized as a genuine non-plated coin. Either way, it's worth a cent.

 

bump to show other poster.

 

High school science project

 

if it was steel it would be heavy and stick to a magnet. I'm going with PMD- removed copper layer. You can still see remnants of the copper at 7 o'clock on the reverse and between the letters of "UNITED"

 

Electrolysis comes to mind.

 

2008 thread! LOL

 

Stick to a magnet maybe depending on the alloy, Heavy no believe it or not common steel alloys have about the same density and weight as zinc.

 

Probably not. Abe still has the beard.




(Sorry, just couldn't resist).

 

Why would steel be the first thing that comes to mind, rather than zinc (without copper plating)?
But of course, it's PMD.

 

I have a 1984 steel looking penny that has a ring around the edge and a little bigger than the regular size penny