| Author |
 Replies: 18 / Views: 5,007 |
|
Valued Member
United States
405 Posts |
How can you tell if a steel cent has been replated? Here is a pic of one in question........   |
|
|
|
Valued Member
 United States
405 Posts |
I am guessing that weight would be best. I just weighed a bunch of them that I have. I know the listed weight is 2.7 grams. All the suspected re plating ones where about 2.85 to 2.88 grams I think it is pretty conclusive that those are plated. But now I do still have a couple that look real nice maybe even UNC.  Those weighed in at about 2.75 grams a little high but is that within tolerances? thanks Cory |
|
Valued Member
United States
51 Posts |
Didn't know they replated them.
|
|
Moderator
 United States
14463 Posts |
Some steel cents have been replated by private companies.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Look for rough surfaces couples with an unnatural shine. Also look at the edge, reprocessed cents will be fully plated while an original 1943 will have raw steel on the edge.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4867 Posts |
I had thought about buying some BU steelies at one time on ebay but I strayed away from that because I didn't know if they were replated or not. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
996 Posts |
Almost any 43 cents that have a shine or sheen have been replated. The only way they could retain a shiny finish after 70 years without replating is if they were sealed almost immediately after minting, that was never done.
I recently bought a 20 pound bag of mixed foreign coins and found 3 1944 Belgian 2-Franc coins. These were struck on the same planchettes as 1943 US steel cents and they have a dull finish that appears original.
While my book collection of 43 cents are certainly replated I do retain a set of fairly decent coins that are not replated. Since 43 cents are pretty common and inexpensive a replated set is not a bad thing to have for aesthetic purposes.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
Look for rough surfaces couples with an unnatural shine.  The details seem to be a little mushy on the replated ones compared to a normal one as well. |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
2805 Posts |
I have a 2FR coin that's pretty shiny. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
996 Posts |
Quote:
have a 2FR coin that's pretty shiny. If it is a 44 then maybe it is plated... |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
Almost any 43 cents that have a shine or sheen have been replated. The only way they could retain a shiny finish after 70 years without replating is if they were sealed almost immediately after minting, that was never done. Never done? Not really true. Way, way back I used to take many of them and seal in those plastic tubes. Now many rolls of them and they look like the day they were made. Out of well over 2,000 of these steel cents, possibly half are Uncirculated. And of course I too have many replated ones. 3 were plated with Copper. My favorites. |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
2805 Posts |
Here's mine:   Yes, there is a bit of crud that's probably removable, but shiny zinc/iron is delicate stuff so I've kept it out of my ultrasonic cleaner (which works very well, by the way...!). Re-plated? You be the judge (and also I'd like a grade for it :P). |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1590 Posts |
I am currently searching a quarter of a million wheat pennies. I have gone through about 130k so far and I have almost a full roll of "shiny" AU/MS coins that look as good as the day they were minted. I also have a mint sewn bag of 1943-S. I am not sure what shape they are in. But I bet they look pretty good!
|
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
I also have a mint sewn bag of 1943-S. I am not sure what shape they are in. But I bet they look pretty good!  What do you think your chances are of there being a copper one in that bag?  |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
I also have a mint sewn bag of 1943-S. I am not sure what shape they are in. But I bet they look pretty good!
I'd have opened that as soon as I got it. Placed all the MS graded ones in plastic tubes. Checked for mint erros and of course, look for a Copper one. Where did you ever get that. One of my favorite coins. Sure wish I found that. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
I also have a mint sewn bag of 1943-S. I am not sure what shape they are in. But I bet they look pretty good!
I'd have opened that as soon as I got it. Placed all the MS graded ones in plastic tubes. Checked for mint erros and of course, look for a Copper one. Where did you ever get that. One of my favorite coins. Sure wish I found that. Wierd thing about those is how many have been plated with all kinds of metals. I've got some Chrome plated, Zinc plated, Tin plated and Copper plated. Chromed ones look like a proof and probably that is why someone did that so they could sell them as if a proof. Some are done so well it is almost impossible to tell. The ones that are really noticable are the ones where all the letters and numbers now look larger and mushy. Edited by just carl
10/17/2013 10:43 am
|
| |
Replies: 18 / Views: 5,007 |
Posted 10/10/2013 01:50 am
