Does anyone know of a complete list of pennies that were "Brass" plated errors. I see a list showing 1983,1985-D,1997,1997-D, and 98. Were there more years, and what were they. Thanks!
I don't know of anyone who has catalogued specific errors. There are just too many variations that exist for any one date, mintmark and/or denomination.
If that is to be a deep search, I would recommend finding the availability of an XRF "gun" to determine composition as the different in visible or physical measurements is too small to separate and verify, especially in photos or screen display. IMO, Jim
They are not brass plated. Some copper plated zinc cents have a “brassy” appearance due to zinc contamination in the plating solution. It could happen on any date or mint mark of copper plated cents. Some dates/ MMs may be more common.
I do realize how they are made Danomite, but thanks for the info. I call them "Brass Plated" because that is the excepted term by people like Ken Potter. So I just used that accepted name to make it easier. I see coins sometimes with that yellow brassy look other than the dates mentioned and wonder is that just toning or is it another one for the list. Thanks everyone for your input.
That's just toning. Cents are made of copper and have been for over 100 years with a few exceptions, like steel from 1943. And zinc since 1982-Yuk!!
The problem you're going to run into is getting analytical data to support your claims. XRF uses an X-Ray beam that penetrates below the surface up to 100 microns depending on the energy source and material. The Copper plating is only approx 8 microns thick, so when the results show Zn, is it zinc that's in the plating, or zinc from the core??? I believe there may be lab instruments that can use a very shallow angle, but that's not something your going to easily find and the analysis would be expensive. Color is too subjective to be of any use. I read about brass plating in the early 80s and pulled a few yellow tinted coins from circulation at the time that I'm absolutely positive are brass plated, but I have no proof. Copper is a very reactive metal, and environmental toning can easily occur. Without analytical data, color is just an opinion, and you know what they say about opinions. BTW: The color of your coins doesn't look like brass plating.
Oh, and Ken Potter is the only one selling those things also. it's not common in the hobby at all as a "collectible". I'm only aware of PCI ever grading and encapsulating them, and only so Ken Potter could sell them on his site. this can happen any year or mintmark since 1982 since switching to the copper plated zinc planchet, any time the copper plating solution gets enough zinc contamination in it from plating zinc planchets, as it's used it gets more "brassy" there is no "list" because it happens to some every single year, what ken potter is selling is the ones he had PCI attribute as that to sell to people. the mint doesn't make the planchets, so it's not a mint error. if you want, you can buy one of Ken Potters that he has for sale, but I doubt you will get any of the current 3rd party graders to slab your finds as "brass plated planchet", and PCI as far as I know is now out of business,,, I think. people been trying to sell them under all kinds of names since 1982, "yellow Jacket", "golden sun cent" are two I can think of off the top of my head. Look if it's 1983 or newer and weighs 3.1g, you got a serious find, these things weighing 2.5g are relatively common occurrences and pre-minting problems in quality control from the planchet supplier. If they sell on ebay, they sell for less than what Ken Potter sells them for, people list them for what they paid for them from him, hoping to make their money back. My opinion it's a cent, it's worth 1 cent. now if it were steel, and zinc got into the copper to make it brass, you'd likely have something collectible there maybe, but this is literally the planchet maker being lazy about cleaning and changing their plating solution. I've gotten almost golden toned cents just by leaving new ones in an altoids tin for a year or so. I believe the tin gives the copper a fresh bronze quality in appearance only.
I would like to know how Ken Potter and PCI authenticate that the plating is brass? If it's based on color, well..... How can they be certain it wasn't environmental toning? Heat induced? Chemical contact? And if it's being done visually, how do they reduce the subjectivity of their opinion? Do they have known brass color standards? At what zinc levels are the coins considered brass? 1%? 5%? 10%? Just what are their qualifications to determine the zinc level be judging the color. There is no question that brass plated cents exist. The process, materials, and chemistry say that it can occur. I have a couple that I am 100% certain are brass plated. But without corroborating data, it's still only my opinion. Are you going to believe me just because I say it's brass? No, you'll want to see the data (which you should)! Basically, what Ken Potter and PCI are saying is "we think the color looks like brass, so it is a brass plated error. Trust us." Remember, XRF and other nondestructive analytical methods penetrate below the surface and will pick up the zinc in the core, so they aren't using science.
I would think mid 82 through today there technically could be errors. Jardin Zinc out of Tennessee makes the cent planchets for the US MINT. I would think Jardin would have a better answer than about anyone else. They have also changed their names and was bought out by a Capital Mgt company. ==> https://designandbuildwithmetal.com...rocess Solutions is now,and the ARTAZN™ brand.
And that's why I find it fishy and a gimmick. Ken Potter a variety and error dealer/ expert, and PCI slab these as "struck on brass plated planchet ", heck JT Stanton signed some of the slabs even,,,, and no analysis to back it up, just his...... and PCI's reputation. ken potter even has his Dept of Treasury question response letter as supporting evidence on his site, but no actually metallurgy test. They could have destroyed one to have tested to find out the results. Stanton was CEO of PCI starting in 2008, maybe it lasted that year before going belly up again? He attributed for them before that though. Not sure when this slabbing "brass plated planchet' became a thing but likely it was long after the 1990s. I dunno about that company PCI, the more I read about the financial messes the shadier it appears to be.
