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 Replies: 25 / Views: 1,017 |
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New Member
United States
36 Posts |
I found an odd looking 1944s penny and found that it looked similar to a Netherland .35 cent struck at the same time, and found previously. However, my coin did not have the correct weight; only 3.0 grams. I weighed a steel penny on my scale and it also weighed 3.0g, while another '44 penny weighed 3.5g. My penny is NOT attracted to a magnet. I didn't think I'd be able to get the composition tested, so I did my own chemistry test; a heat test. The colors correspond to a heated steel color chart! I definitely think the penny is the wrong composition, and definitely has less copper than it should and more of some other elements?     Edited by CrackDie
03/27/2023 12:35 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
18215 Posts |
So I'm confused here, maybe you can clarify it.
Your first images shows a cent along side another Foreign 'silver' cent from the Netherlands, then you show a color template of 'steel' colors resulting from different temps and cooling steps.
Are you saying that your coin is of Silver or Steel?
What is the weight of your coin? (Down to 2 decimal points please - should weigh 3.11 grams.
Does it stick to a magnet? never mind on this item (I missed that tidbit of information.)
Your coin weighs 3.0 - that is within normal specs. I'm wondering what the true weight would be if measured out to 2 decimal points.
Edited by Dearborn
03/27/2023 1:26 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5093 Posts |
By the photos the coin seem to be plated. The scale of the color you post is for what kind of steel? (not all react same at different temperatures)
If you want to know wat alloy has your coin just made an XRF test.
NEVER ARGUE WITH AN IDIOT. FIRST THEY WILL DRAG YOU DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL. THEN, THEY WILL BEAT YOU WITH EXPERIENCE.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
18215 Posts |
Copper will also turn to a reddish hue if heated as well.
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New Member
United States
36 Posts |
silviosi,
my coin is at 3g, I think plating would have increased the weight. If you look at the pic prior to heating, you can clearly see it is not plated, and is very pitted...which would NOT be the case if it were plated.
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New Member
United States
36 Posts |
Dearborn,
"Your first images shows a cent along side another Foreign 'silver' cent from the Netherlands, then you show a color template of 'steel' colors resulting from different temps and cooling steps"
- it is the same penny. Just before and after heating. The heating was conducted and the colors are NOT soot or surface color.
I don't know the metal composition. I'm just stating that this penny has the "wrong" composition. I don't know how to test, the cost, or whether it would be worth trying for this penny?
I just think it is NOT the proper composition, and that I have demonstrated that.
Otherwise, not trying to do anything else with the penny. I will just keep it. Its cool looking, and was a cool experiment.
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New Member
United States
36 Posts |
Dearborn,
The top right penny is prior to heating. I was comparing to the Netherland quarter, that had similar color, and was implicated in the "wrong planchet" sold (images bottom right). But I don't think its the Netherland planchet because it would weigh 3.6 or so...
Also, I can't measure any more than one decimal with my scale.
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New Member
United States
36 Posts |
Dearborn,
"Copper will also turn to a reddish hue if heated as well." What looks "reddish" to you? Copper wont turn the color spectrum that I show, though. A spectrum that directly MATCHES the "steel" color chart. THAT is the point. The top pic was NOT heated. I don't understand why you tell me copper will turn reddish? The before pic does not look like copper, that is why I looked into the issue, and the heated (after) pic does not look "reddish".
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New Member
United States
36 Posts |
Dearborn,
The bottom and right edge of the reverse are blue/grey, like a steel penny.
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New Member
United States
36 Posts |
This is a brilliant chemistry experiment, but seems to be totally misunderstood.
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New Member
United States
36 Posts |
silviosi,
I address testing and cost in my first post. In addition, a standard test would NOT be accurate enough to detect composition variation necessary to validate the expense of testing:
"As a rule of thumb the accuracy "out of the box" given by the difference between XRF....the accuracy out of the box for minerals can be within 20% of the lab assay or even more if the sample is not homogeneous enough"
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8976 Posts |
Another possibility to try to eliminate: Unfortunately you can buy, and have been able to for a long time now, fake 1944 steel cents online from China. They are pitted like this b/c they are cast fakes. I own one I bought when studying fakes modern coins years ago. These are typified also by the rim appearing like the rim showing in the REV pictures of yours that you posted. Although the info in the following link is about a 1932 fake quarter I bought at the same time, look at the pics of the rim to see the imperfections (worse on the quarter) and similarities of area to that of your coin's rim. http://goccf.com/t/136142 Sorry I do not have it at hand to weigh or see if it sticks to a magnet. Just saying they exist, and I have seen people find them roll hunting who have posted them online. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
18215 Posts |
Ok, so you heated this coin yourself to help you determine the metal composition?
Also, if you please, when you quote me, please keep my words on a separate line from your responses - it will help avoid confusion.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2718 Posts |
the WWII period saw variances in cent composition as the mint sometimes incorportated spent shell casings, so your coin might have more tin than most, and it might have been bleached by environmental exposure or an old cleaning, here we see such coins far more often than an improper planchet
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11993 Posts |
Consider submitting the coin to a reputable 3rd party grading/assessment service. If you do, please let us know the result. Thanks.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5422 Posts |
I'm not sure why the various color heat test for steel, since it is not magnetic, wouldn't that damage the coin and value?
A XRF test should be more conclusive in this case.
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Replies: 25 / Views: 1,017 |
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Posted 03/27/2023 1:23 pm
