1853 One Cent - Wrong Or Thin Planchet?

Fake, those denticles are a dead giveaway

Oh and to ccf

Your coin is not fake but it has been subjected to chemical erosion at some point in its life. The disappearance of the rim and thinning of all devices are the primary indicators of chemical erosion.

Yeah, might have been a dug coin, and corroded so badly........

Actually it's pretty cool looking, I'd keep it.

Good discussion - learned something!

Thanks for all the input. Since I don't collect coins, I think I'll put these up together for auction on ebay for a few bucks. Would I be correct if I advertise them as "1853 Large Cent plus Curiousity"? That title might get a little extra attention and I don't know that I could really call the acid-eaten cent a 'collectible coin'.

I have one of these too, but dated 1844. Might they have been placed in a brine pickle barrel for good luck, and to help preserve the pickles with germ-killing copper-based corrosion by-products? Might they have been used as a sacrificial anode in ships? Copper plating sources in miniature electrolysis processes of some sort? How about use in powder works where no sparking steel tools are allowed? Lightning rod tips? I would rather think mine is a contemporary counterfeit, but will look again for the small letters as evidence of acid corrosion on all surfaces including the sides of the letters. There ought to be a good 19th century story to account for these thin cents.

I didn't realize as much as I'd hoped (only $7.46) but that's better than having it tossed in the back of a drawer because no one knew what to do with it.

Thanks for your help, guys!