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 Replies: 11 / Views: 18,190 |
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New Member
United States
2 Posts |
Hi folks! I'm new to this. In the 1960's as a kid I collected coins. Saved lots of wheat pennies from general circulation. Now that I have retired, I've started looking through my collection to cash in. I found a 1947 steel Wheat penny. My first thought was "spend it", since it wasn't a 1944. However, as I searched more on the web I started to consider that maybe only I - and the people who handled it before me - have seen this penny before. Could a steel planchet have been stuck at the bottom of the "planchet barrel" for 3 years getting pounded on by other planchets before it final made it to the die in 1947? It has lots of dings on it, afterall. Could a forger have made it and accidentally released it to general circulation? Why bother forging it? I'm thinking that this is a genuine mint error, and I'm dreaming that selling this will allow me to retire to Florida! I'd appreciate any comments. Thanks. The coins - one normal 1947 for comparison and the steel one - are on a cork board background.  |
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Pillar of the Community
798 Posts |
I don't think it is a genuine mint error, I think someone plated it.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
You can see the copper under the areas where the plating is peeling. PSD |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1249 Posts |
 when I zoom in on the rim of the obverse it looks like copper where it had been all beat up . So plated coin PMD or post mint damage. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
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Moderator
 Australia
16876 Posts |
And if a whole bunch of people all saying the same thing isn't enough to convince you, try this simple test: see if it sticks to a magnet. When it doesn't stick, you will know that it is a perfectly normal bronze 1947 cent that someone has plated.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
613 Posts |
Looks like a Dipper to me so to speak. If its not a Mate to the Magnet,you should not have a threesome with this Cent.
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Sorry ; you'll have to wait on that Florida retirement. |
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New Member
 United States
2 Posts |
YES, it was plated! I just scratched off more. sigh. I didn't know people plated coins. If by tiny chance the person who did this long ago as a prank is still alive and reading this, you got me good! But why didn't you plate a 1944? It would have been more fun for you. Thanks to allo who replied!
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
I realize this is a bad moment for you, dpietras45, but it happens so often that you're not even the first one this week. Unless you plated coins as a school project, you can't be expected to recognize it and people are constantly surprised at just how many plated coins there are in the wild.
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
I would have it checked just incase. At least for your piece of mind!! :)
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
So you're saying that my near-complete 1940-58 LWC set in steel may not be genuine?  |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 18,190 |
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Posted 03/16/2015 12:27 am
