| Author |
 Replies: 23 / Views: 8,883 |
Page 2 of 2
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2738 Posts |
Authenticating cents struck on unplated planchets is difficult in the best of circumstances. An oxidized coin makes it much harder. Generally, gray cents with dull, rough, or bumpy surface have had the copper plating chemically stripped. My guess is that's what happened to your specimen.
Error coin writer and researcher.
|
|
Valued Member
 United States
286 Posts |
wow thanks for all the input!
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
As a comparison, here is an 86-D I found with incomplete plating.  Quote:
...without the copper plating it will crap out even faster. Maybe, if the conditions are right?  Then again, think of all those WWII solid zinc coins. Those I see aren't as cratered as many early "Zincolns". Edited by DVCollector
02/01/2011 4:58 pm
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I actually had one sitting on my desk for a couple of years and it looks like that now also. I am not sure what in the desk made it do this but just about all traces of the copper are gone now and I know it wasn't like that when I placed it on the desk
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Quote:
Then again, think of all those WWII solid zinc coins. Those I see aren't as cratered as many early "Zincolns".
Zincolns are so bad because of galvanic corrosion. If you find a potential unplated cent and it has luster, then you have a very good chance of having a genuine unplated error. Without luster, it is virtually impossible to attribute to error. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
Zincolns are so bad because of galvanic corrosion. Exactly my suspicions--the Cu/Zn combination isn't great for coins. |
|
Valued Member
United States
62 Posts |
I found one this past week. It's a 1998. I'm curious to see if I could try making my own with my leather belt and a hammer.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3507 Posts |
This one was struck on an unplated planchet...  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4000 Posts |
|
|
Valued Member
United States
165 Posts |
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
62064 Posts |
Looks like an altered one. People ruin coins and then spend them. We find them.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3179 Posts |
I am curious as to the value of an unplated planchet cent. Is there any premium to these?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3507 Posts |
The 1996 coin pictured is a damaged cent. A general rule of thumb....If a "Zincoln" (Copper-plated zinc) cent, looks like a mess, it is not going to be a coin that was struck on an unplated planchet.
Another point to be made is that even if it were, which in this case, it isn't. You could never prove that the coin was not damaged after it left the Mint. This is why these are only valued if they can be authenticated, and are in high grades. There are too many ways to remove the copper plating so these coins are faked all the time.
Thanks,
Bill
Edited by foundinrolls
03/12/2011 3:47 pm
|
|
Valued Member
United States
286 Posts |
just wondering, is there a way to clean the corrosion off of the zinc? would acetone do the trick?
i have a couple that I want to play around with....
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3507 Posts |
Nope...once they begin to rot, they are done for.
|
|
Page 2 of 2
|
Replies: 23 / Views: 8,883 |
Page 2 of 2
|
First Page
Posted 02/01/2011 01:50 am
