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 Replies: 11 / Views: 461 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2200 Posts |
You'll see here a 1943 steel cent. Obviously something happened to it to make it look "fizzy." Does anyone know what could have caused this? And can I treat it in some way to bring it back to its original glory? (Well, maybe not original glory per se, but to at least get rid of the fizziness.) Thanks.   |
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Moderator
 United States
187446 Posts |
Zinc coated steel plus exposure equals yuck!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
21580 Posts |
Looks like the zinc layer has been attacked by something
causing that appearance. Certainly not worth spending
time or money trying to rectify it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3619 Posts |
The good news is that the Zinc is doing what it was intended to do: oxidize to protect the steel beneath it. The bad news is that the Zinc is doing what it was intended to do. In 1943, the mint wasn't thinking about generations of collectors. It was trying to get an inexpensive bulk product to last a year or two in commerce without looking like a rusty nail. For galvanized fences and sheet metal, the solution is simple: scrub it with a stiff bristle brush and buff it. That obviously can't be done with a coin without destroying the coin's value. The Zinc layer could be removed with many different types of acid, but that creates the same problem. Oils are lightly acidic and could coat the coin to prevent further deterioration, but would also destroy the coin's value. The coin could be stripped and replated, which is why the reprocessed cents were done, but that also creates the same problem. Beyond destroying the coin's value, I don't know of anything that can restore the appearance. Long term, the only real long-term solution for original 1943 cents (and the Zincolns) would be storage in holders that are pressurized with a Noble Gas and sealed. Argon would be the logical choice. That's the best I can offer here.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3169 Posts |
Do you have any Acetone?  |
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Moderator
United States
94636 Posts |
Not sure anything can be done to this coin to restore it - maybe just strip the zinc coating off completely exposing the steel core.
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2200 Posts |
Quote:
For galvanized fences and sheet metal, the solution is simple: scrub it with a stiff bristle brush and buff it. That obviously can't be done with a coin without destroying the coin's value. The Zinc layer could be removed with many different types of acid, but that creates the same problem. Oils are lightly acidic and could coat the coin to prevent further deterioration, but would also destroy the coin's value. As far as I'm concerned, the coin has no value other than $0.01, so I'm not concerned with destroying that value. What can I dip it in the get rid of this coating? |
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Moderator
United States
94636 Posts |
a quick dip into muriatic acid would do it quite well
I've used it to remove a zinc coating from steel all thread to expose the steel for my outdoor rustic furniture.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10470 Posts |
Throw it in some lemon juice for a few days - it's only worth a cent as it sits so can't really ruin the value of it.
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Moderator
United States
15381 Posts |
You can not fix it, sorry.
Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19930 Posts |
Fully oxidized zinc, there is no saving this coin. These are like $5 in mint state, better off buying a new one.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 461 |
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Posted 03/19/2026 12:05 pm
