I Think I Have A 1983 Copper Cent...

I'm with Claude - better pictures would help here. If you take a known Zincoln and put a scratch to it, you can make a scratch whereby the zinc is not exposed. While encouraging on your coin (perhaps), it isn't an absolute means to confirm your specimen is a copper cent.

Weight looks good. Toning appears good as well...but better picture would help especially close-ups around the devices (the mintmark for sure). I like the suggestion of getting a few LCS's to render an in-hand opinion. And I like the idea of carrying in the coin to a show if one should be in the area. Else, insured registered mail may do.

I think that close-ups of the areas typical to split plating would assist members here in rendering a reasonable opinion about the planchet.

wow

It sounds promising, but don't write any checks on it yet.
You will have to have it graded by a third party grading company in order to sell it. You can mail it insured mail and buy extra insurance from the TPG. I would really like to see some clearer photos, but photos will not confirm that it is a transitional cent.

I don't think there is anything that folks can add that hasn't already been said. CWB summed it up succinctly:




Thus, if I may offer this might-sound-harsh advice/encouragement: Focus on selecting a TPG, buying their insurance (cwb's suggestion), and sending the coin via Registered Mail ASAP, as opposed to expending your precious time and energy on soliciting inconclusive opinions.

All the Best,

Mark

It's time to go back to that coin dealer to talk to him about submitting your coin to a TPG. I'm sure his shop sends coins out to the big 3 on a regular basis and he would happily include yours in the next batch to the firm of your choice.

If the scale is accurate, I'd say that's a preliminary confirmation...until it gets certified. I have a pretty accurate jeweler's scale, and I've never seen a zinc cent get over 2.7gr.

This might lead to a rash of new ebay listings for unsearched Lincoln cents with a 1983 date showing on one end and an obvious copper cent on the other end....(memorial side out, of course).

If two or three more scales agree on the 3 gram weight then it is probably a copper example and would really benefit from being slabbed. Unfortunately the OP is in Canada so that kind of eliminates the option of using the extremely safe Registered Mail option.



When you send it registered you already get a receipt that proves the mailing, Registered Mail already has to be signed for, and it already has tracking. Infact for theor internal records it has better tracking than any other because every time it is handed off to another employee (and only USPS regular employees can handle Registered mail , no temps.) it has to be signed for. And they are VERY conscientious about getting that signature from the guy they pass it on to, because if a piece of register mail doaes go missing the last person that signed for it is the one held responsible. That can mean the loss of their job, their pension and even jail time.

You do NOT automatically get $50,000 in insurance. You get insurance based on the declared value up to a maximum of $50,000. You can declare more than that at a reate of $1 per $1,000, but it doesn't encrease the $50,000 maximum that they will reimburse you.



Once again Registered mail isn't an option because the OP lives in Canada (Unless they live in Windsor and know someone in Detroit who can mail it for them. Then you have to trust the person in Detroit)