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 Replies: 18 / Views: 5,951 |
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
Hello folks:
I came across a 20 pence in copper (probably) as opposed to the usual copper-nickel. If anyone knows the story behind this and an approx value, I would highly appreciate it.
Are these common? Are these rare? Are these real/fake? Couldn't find much online.
Please fire away!
Thank you, kindly. 
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
945 Posts |
More often than not these off-colour modern decimal GB coins turn out to be tarnished by natural conditions rather than actually off metal. I have seen many 5ps, 10ps and 20ps that "look" copper or bronze, but with a little careful cleaning turn out to be white metal (cupro-nickel) underneath. With this example I can see quite white metal in some of the detail, particularly on the reverse, so I suspect the same is true here.
The tarnish is difficult to shift, so maybe a careful scratch on the rim will reveal the underlying metal?
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Is there a weight difference? John1  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
If it is really copper nickel, and not (bronze?), it should weigh exactly the same as a standard 20P, within 100th of a gramme.
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17878 Posts |
Director - I've found dozens of these with my metal detector and they always go this color after being buried for a while. I get so fed up trying to clean them that I usually spend them in vending machines!
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Valued Member
 United States
123 Posts |
Quote:
NumisRob
Director - I've found dozens of these with my metal detector and they always go this color after being buried for a while. I get so fed up trying to clean them that I usually spend them in vending machines! @NumisRob, would you by any chance have a few pics to share? |
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17878 Posts |
Quote:
@NumisRob, would you by any chance have a few pics to share? I don't have any detected 20p coins at the moment - have spent them all - but here is a selection of detected cupro-nickel 5p and 10p coins, and normal circulated ones for comparison:  An old-size 10p I dug up, together with one from normal circulation:  In my experience all cupro-nickel or cupro-nickel clad coins take on this appearance after being buried for any length of time. Edited by NumisRob
04/03/2020 12:19 pm
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
Great, can you please post the other side of the 10p that has a edge bump; the middle coin?
Thank you.
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17878 Posts |
Quote:
Great, can you please post the other side of the 10p that has a edge bump; the middle coin? Had to take this under artificial light as the sun's gone down since I took the other photo, but this should give you an idea!  |
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
Thank you for all the replies...I will get the coin weighed and report back, hopefully with additional pics, but unfortunately that won't happen until Monday...have a great weekend and stay safe...
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
Hello again,
The weight is 3.8 grams, could be 3.7 something as it's rounded up on the scale.
It seems to me it's struck on a 1982 penny Bronze blank (3.56 gms) or a foreign blank. I am leaning towards a penny blank as the weight is very close to that, but still would send it off for grading ASAP to rest my case.
After seeing the photo below, environmental toning is completely out of the picture IMHO.
See attached and once again, fire away!
Thank you and stay safe!
Edited by Director
04/11/2020 07:44 am
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
@NumisRob
@sel_69l
@John1
@PaddyB
Your opinion now, please?
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17878 Posts |
I'm surprised but I wish you all the well if this does turn out to be a genuine OMS. As 1982 was the year the 20p was introduced, with a vast total mintage, it's the date most likely to be found with errors.
A 1p blank would be smaller and of course is not 7-sided. Although the pressure of the dies would have squeezed it a bit, I'd be surprised if it came out as well struck and shaped as this with such clear definition on both sides.
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17878 Posts |
Director - any update on the 20p? Have you had the metal content analysed yet? Interestingly, today I was pulling up some weeds in a little patch of ground next to my garage, and dug up a 1982 20p! Here it is as it came out of the ground:   The same coin after a scrub and polish!   |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Although it is hard to see in the OP's pics, it does seem to be a bit more circular than standard 20 P coins.
To check further, a few pictures need to be taken from different angles, with the subject coin stacked between two standard 20 P coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
694 Posts |
Its a known mint error. plain and simply put the nickel coating was omitted leaving the copper exposed. You can see quite clearly its as struck not been buried in earth for eons :)
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Replies: 18 / Views: 5,951 |
Posted 04/03/2020 07:43 am
