I Think I May Have Found A Very Rare 1971 Zinc Type Penny Error

Zinc poisoning IS a thing, but only on 1982 and later cents. It happens when the plating bath that deposits the copper on the zinc core gets too much zinc dissolved in it - causes the coins to have a slightly yellowish cast. But it's considered within the normal variation and there's no value to it.

However, in 1971, Zinc plated copper wasn't a thing. So this is either environmental damage or post mint plating.

It has been 22 DAYS since the OP has visited CCF..... but apparently they sold the cent on ebay for $33.33 to CCF member Harley1.

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Newspaper article:

I am always skeptical of explanations provided by Mint personnel and am equally skeptical of Alan Herbert's assessment. A cent enriched in zinc would not show the ghastly sheen depicted in the lead-off photo. A slightly elevated level of zinc would not reduce the coin's weight all that much. It is possible to simultaneously have both an improper alloy mix error and a rolled-thin error, although such combinations are quite rare. The photo is consistent with a coin that's been plated with brass outside the Mint. Before plating, some coins are cleaned in an acid bath, which can strip enough metal from the coin to leave the weight out of tolerances, even after the plating has been applied. I think that's what happened here.

Among the many plated cents found CRH, I have a yellow 1980, differing from all the other "plater's". Thanks Mike Diamond for finally nailing down what it's coated with, Brass. Wondered what they were trying to fake...have the answer!

The shell case cents of 1944-1946 have been said to have varying degrees of zinc content making the appear slightly "yellower". Just an alloy mix analomy and within mint tolerance.

Info is free, questions may cost ya!

The OP's coin is 1971, the coins referred to in the article are 1972.

I have a thought maybe putting cent on a scale would prove whether it is zinc. Just a idea.

I think the OP was counting on the fact that no-one would bother to read the article and took that opportunity to sell a plated penny for more than $30.