penny with the face fallen off

hey, uh, i'm not a coin collector or anything, but i just found this penny in a jar of coins i have and i'm just really wondering if any of you could tell me why this is. it's a penny, but there's no face on it. that is, there's a rim protruding out on the side where the face is, but there's nothing there but some silver metal. are pennys assembled in 3 pieces? is it common for one piece to fall off? the tail's side is a fine, normal looking penny.

thanks for any help!
greg

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

It's quite possible you have an error, but it may be post-mint. Please post some pics so we can give a better reply.

 

here it is.

 

does that mean it might be worth something? i really know nothing about coins.

i appreciate your reply!

 

You know what it looks like to me? Part of a magician's coin. It looks like it's been machined to hold another coin. Maybe the other part fell out?

 

I've been looking at maybe buying some capped die cents...and this one doesn't look like one....I would go with Becky....

Speedy

 

Yeah...those pics...I think I have seen them somewhere before. They look awefully familiar for some reason.

 

that's weird. i just took them today.

 

Hi,
Absolutely one part of a Magician's coin. One portion is hollowed out such as this coin was then a machined ten cent coin is usually placed in the recess. This way a "Magician" can appear to make a cent turn into a dime.
Have Fun,
Bill

 

The rim IMO is made from where the rest of the coin was "cut" out....a capped die error rim isn't the same all the way around in most cases I don't think...
I agree...the weight would tell the story...

Speedy

 

Welcome to the forum

Either way you go, I'd only hold it by the edges from now on. Finger prints will lower any potential value. Before you even consider it, do NOT clean it either as cleaning in almost any form will leave tell-tale signs, also lower value.

Fun find

 

Here is what I think of when I think of a capped die strike....
http://coins.heritagegalleries.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=395&Lot_No=28324
I've been trying to remember how to remember the capped die and the die cap error apart!

Speedy

 

Hi greg.

The "silver metal" is the zinc core of modern cents.
during the 1982 production of Lincoln cents, the Mint switched to a coin that was made from zinc, with a thin coating of copper.

I suspect that the "heads" side of your coin has been machined/milled out by someone having a little fun with coins.

Easy enough to tell, though. If it's the same weight as a normal coin, you may have an error. If it's lighter, then it's likely just an altered coin.

 

I would have to go with GDJMSP's conclusion that is was caused by a Capped Obverse Die! The deep strike on the Obverse pushed the Obverse rim up and more than likely out (**), thus causing the Zinc to be exposed on the Obverse side and caused the rounding of the rim on the Reverse side. (**) I would bet that the coin is slightly larger in diameter than a normal Lincoln Memorial cent and that a good close-up of the Reverse, will show a very string and deep strike!


Frank

 

Definitely NOT a capped die strike. In fact a capped die strike would NOT show a high rim like this thing does. I think what GDJMSP was thinking of was the die cap itself which, when the metal is forced up around the shank of the die can show a very high rim. However in the case of such a die cap the INSIDE of the high rimmed side will show a sharp clear image of the design, and the side WITHOUT the high rim will either show an expanded distort design image, or no image at all. This is the opposite of the piece in question.

No this is a machine cent intended to have a dime fit inside it. You wil find that a dime will just about fit inside the rim of a cent. So the area inside that is machined (exposing the silver grey zinc inside) and the a dime that has been planed down in thickness slightly is glued into it. In this case either the dime has fallen out, or it was never finished in the first place.

 

Simple solution, see if a dime fits into the recessed area.
If it fits snugly enough as not to fal out easily, it MAY be the trick coin discribed by others here. You may want to take it to a coin dealer if one is in the area and ask them since weighing with out accurate scales is difficult and really not conclusive. I am always trying to weigh the differences in the 1982 cents and pending wear, it is not that easy.