Shinny silver colored 1981 D Lincoln penny

So i collect funny money coins (anything not "NORMAL" usd currency) particularly wheat pennies and buffalo nickles, as well as foreign coins. However today I found a coin that has confused the crap out of me. The coin is a 1981 D Lincoln penny... Now here is the kicker its a shiny silver color that looks a little dirty on one side but looks like it could be cleaned off. I have read on multiple forums and sites that pennies made in 1981 and before were made with 95.0% copper and 5% zinc. I have also read that no silver or steel pennies were made in 1981. I don't believe it has been tampered with postmint but I could be wrong. I plan on weighing it later today to see if it is in fact 3.11 grams in weight like it should be. If it does what kind of rare find do I have and how much is it worth. I have included a picture of both sides of the coin and the outer ring. PLEASE comment any and all info you may have and vote your opinion on the poll i have made. Thank you and have a blessed day.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

science experiment or plated,

 

What if it weighs 3.11 grams?

 

since you like "funny money" you should peruse this website.
There's more just like them ... they do "funny" things to US currency. Sooner or later this stuff goes back into circulation becz, it's official US coinage after all.
==> https://www.merrickmint.com/

Also remember, these places have been doing this stuff for decades and decades.

you can also search CT for plated cents .. you should find hundreds of examples of other ppl finding them in circulation if you spend enough time going through threads.

 

I believe the coin has been plated.

 

Standard plated coin.

 

When you plate the cent in the experiment and remove it, the increase in weight will not be significant due to the tolerance on all cents. For that cent tolerance is +/- .13 grams as normal.
Jim.

 

Thank you for the info

 

What metal is it most likely plated with

 

Bank (Chase) in my area have refused to take in plated coins. They said that it is not a legal tender anymore once it is modified.

 

Looks like zinc.

 

I have one too its a 1956 wheat

 

Is that plated

 

yes

 

Is there any way to test if is plated without damaging the coin

 

when one plates a coin they are adding metal. This metal, even if very thin, covers up the fine details of the design. You can see how Abe lacks crisp, fine details.

and of course, plating is damage ... so you're not going to affect the coin. It will only be worth 1 cent anyways.

 

that's a normal weight for a 1981D copper cent - if it weighs 2.5 grams, then you have something rare and wonderful - the end of year zinc experimental 1982 preview sample strike using current dies - worth millions

 

Many coin dealers have metal testers that you can test a coin on. They test the surface and don't penetrate very far.

 

I have a 1981 d penny that looks silver and weighs 2.6!

 

1981 normal weight should be 3.11 g and the silver color is probably from some coating or plating. Post a picture and we can help more.