Shiny metal 1957 penny?

Hi...I don't really know if this is considered an error or not? But I figured I would post a pic of this penny I found and let you experts decide!

I found a box of old coins at my grandparents house we are cleaning out. Mostly pennies, some foreign coins. But then I was really perplexed by this 1957-D penny. At first I thought wow that is way too shiny to be a zinc-coated steel one...but then I realized after looking in my coin book that, that wasn't even the right year. It should be bronze. But I don't know if someone did this to this penny, or something happened to it?

But it's really shiny, it has a weird rim around it, and the L in Liberty is covered by the rim. And on the back, it looks like the rim is lifting off, you can see in the pics. And I don't have a scale to weigh it, but just by holding it, it feels lighter than the regular bronze wheat pennies around the same years.

So any ideas? Thanks...

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Not sure what the story is, but it looks as if the rim is actually a post mint "add-on" I'm guessing this coin was made into or part of a display,button, or something of the sort. When you look at where the rim is peeling up can you seen the normal rim underneath. It appears so from the photo. There are some guys on here who will probably pin it down, but that is my guess.

 

Gold plated.
I have a 63-D just like it that came out of jewelery.

 

Looks like the coin is in a bezel to me.

 

That's the first thing that came to my mind also.

 

That so interesting...why on earth would anyone want to put a plain old regular penny in jewelry?? lol

So it's dipped in something and then put in a rim?? I've never heard of such a thing. Or maybe if it were something rare, I dunno. So it would be worn as a necklace or something then?? Maybe it was someone's "lucky" penny haha. Maybe I should carry it around with me!!

 

It was extremely common to put coins in jewelry settings in the second half of the 19th century. Back then coins were beautiful works of art. That is no longer the case. Who would want to adorn their wardrobe with modern coinage? "Nice Roosevelt Dime tie tack you have there, Bob." "Thanks. You should see my Millard Fillmore Dollar cuff links."

 

Could have been a lucky penny or a souvenir from some event. Go to any large flea market and you'll find all kinds of things made from coins to sell to the public.

 

Great Line, Hobo!! Your Killing Me!! Thanks for the Chuckle!!
Steve

 

Cool plated cent. Matches some plated US & Canadian cents I have come across. Some were even acid dipped then chromed likely to pass as dimes. Fairly common. but fun conversation pieces.

gary

 

Hi Amanda. Perhaps someone chose to commemorate something special that happened in their life in 57, like maybe they got engaged, or birth of their first child, or some other event. I, too, have come across the same except mine is a 53, and it is intact (the rim). It's very pretty. Maybe you'll run into someone born in 57, and it might make a nice gift!

Lucy

 

I remember back in the late fifties there were alot of keychains around that had a "plated" Lincoln cent encased in a bezel with a very light chain soldered to the bezel. If you broke off the chain, it would slightly deform the bezel. That's what this coin looks like to me.

 

Hey Amanda,

I hear you, but there is an entire industry built around costume and junk jewelry. I guess some people want something to wear no matter how trashy it is ? But the cent as a charm could have represented something. However they did make silver dimes in '57, so who knows ?

 

No, I don't know of anyone born in that year in my family. Maybe it was just the keychain thing then. Interesting nonetheless, never saw anything like that before. Thanks everyone! I'll definitely post any other oddities I come across.

 

Wow! Honestly, I remember back in the 80's I had a bracelet with about 10-12 pennies dangling from it like charms. This looks like one of the pennies. It was a favorite of mine. Long story shorter my apartment was burlarized and it with everything else was stolen. I miss it. Keep your eyes open people there may be another 9 or 11 in circulation out there! LOL!

 

lmao!

 

Man, my 57 Olds was the fastest thing I have ever owned. Built and beefed, that sucker could haul !

That cent looks plated to me.

gary

 

1957 the rim is different

 

Looks like it is in a bezel.