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 Replies: 36 / Views: 6,054 |
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New Member
Puerto Rico
4 Posts |
Hope every one at the forum is having excellent Holidays! I'm new at the community and need some help/advise.
To make the long story short....between ages 8 and 12 (I'm almost 53 now) I collected pennies that have the wheat wreath and other coins that I found interesting and different at that age (most of them silver coins). I haven't gone through my childhood collection for more than 44 years now. Last week I was at a local mall and stopped by a coin collecting and antiques store. I asked the attendant if they could take a look at my collection if I brought it over. He recommended for me to buy a book which I did. About 3 days later I decided to look over my collection with book at hand. While going through the coins I noticed a silver penny. I thought some one had painted it over, but I looked it up on the book I purchased and to my surprise I found out about the few steel pennies that were made by mistake in 1944. I did two of the tests that are recommended on most sites at the internet: checked if the date was tampered with from a 1943 steeel penny. Not evidence found and I have been with this penny for more than 44 years so there is very little chance that some one tampered the date back in the late 60's. Also did the magnet test and yessss it sticks to the magnet!
To make the story even more interesting I live in Puerto Rico and that's were I started my coin collection when I was a child.
Now here is the help and advise that I need:
1. Are they any other tests I should perform?
2. There are a few coin collecting stores in Puerto Rico, but no companies that can authenticate coins and appraise them. I been searching on the internet I found that they are 3 reputable authenticators and appraisers in the U.S., but you have to send the coin via air mail. I'm afraid that the coin will get lost or stolen. Is there any authenticator/appraiser in the U.S. that I can take the coin in person?
Sorry for the long post. I will greatly appreciate all the help that you can provide me.
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
hey vimo.
I am very pleased you become part of the forum. I am Puerto Rican too but reside outside the island. well if your penny weighs 2.7 grams and attaches to a magnet, it is probably the jackpot. Here in the forum there are many experts who can help you. if yours are 44 steel congratulations. I have read some coin facts pages that are said 44 steel can cost many thousands of dollars.
happy holidays.
Edited by brixxx27
12/30/2013 9:11 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
 To the CCF! Could you post pictures of the obverse and reverse? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4409 Posts |
Welcome to the Community Vimo
I am sure the experts will chime in before long.
-MV
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Do not trust any local coin store or hobby store with that coin. IF real, may well be worth many thousands of dollars. Look up the PCGS web site for how to submit coins. Then you can mail it to them using a guaranteed type of mailing. If you have US mail, there is a type of mail that is guananteed but it cost more. With that type of mailing, someone must sign for it at every place it is taken. Check with your local post office for such a system and you many want to imclude insurance. For what it may cost you may come out way, way ahead. Other wise a lesson well learned.
copied from Google
Registered mail is the most secure option offered by the Postal Service. It provides added protection for valuable and important mail. Registered articles are placed under tight security from the point of mailing to the delivery office. The fee for registered mail with no declared value is $10.60. The fee for registered mail valued between $0.01 and $100 is $11.50. The incremental fee for registered mail with insurance per declared value is $1.35. Return receipt and restricted delivery services are available for additional fees. Registered mail to Canada is subject to a $675 indemnity limit. For all other foreign countries, call Mail Services for the indemnity limit. First-Class or Priority Mail postage is required on domestic registered mail.
Edited by just carl
12/30/2013 9:57 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2543 Posts |
A 1944 steel cent is a very rare commodity. Some people say that is a mint error, that some steel planchets were left in the hopper when the copper planchets were dumped in for the 1944 pennies. Others say that a mint worker purposely ran off a batch of steel 1944 cents for his own profit. Estimates are between 10 and 24 were made. Needless to say, many counterfeits and novelty items are out there. The chances of one of the genuine 10 plus cents making it offshore and into a childs collection are slim, but stranger things have occurred. Of course no one can help you without pictures.  Here's hoping you have a valuable find and to the community Edited by denco7
12/30/2013 10:05 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7614 Posts |
Pictures please.
You can mail it to any of the grading services by REGISTERED insured mail and insure it for up to 25000$ dollars. I've never lost a registered package. It may take longer but it always gets there 99.99% of the time. There are different packaging and taping requirements from other mailing categories so pay attention. I'm sure your local post office can explain it to you.
Hope you hit a big score!
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
I agree with Carl, DO NOT risk it with a local dealer. PCGS does go to coin shows where you could go if you wanted and have them check it out in person. Its obviously more expensive that way, but may not be a bad way to combine a vacation and get it checked out at the same time. http://www.pcgs.com/shows/ |
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New Member
 Puerto Rico
4 Posts |
Thanks every one for welcoming me and for the good advise. Here are photos front and back. Sorry for the quality, but took it with my Ipad.   |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
785 Posts |
Try getting closer to the coin then take the picture. You can also crop the photo if you want. I have an iPad and it is pretty good with taking pictures. Make sure the date is clear as that will be one of the key places to determine wether it is real or not.
Unfortunately, from the pictures you have provided, I think it may be a plated 1944 copper cent (you could check my looking for any copper or flaking plating on the edge of the coin). Also be carful with it as it may be Mercury plated! I would NOT have skin contact with this coin anymore until this possibility is ruled out.
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New Member
Puerto Rico
4 Posts |
Thanks very much for your post. Pardon my ignorance, but if it's plated it will stick to a magnet as well?
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New Member
Puerto Rico
4 Posts |
The edge has some superficial rust that easily comes of, but no copper. No flakes either on the coin. Tomorrow morning I'll take some better pictures and submit.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7614 Posts |
A 1943 steel cent that has been copper plated (or copper "washed") Is still magnetic.
If the date on yours has not been altered that is a good sign.
Whatever you do DO NOT TRY TO CLEAN THIS COIN TO MAKE IT LOOK BETTER!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1130 Posts |
 Do not clean it. Weigh it, that will help us determine what it is. Also, protect it. If you do another magnet test and you are using a big magnet, put something in between the magnet and the penny. Good luck! |
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Valued Member
United States
180 Posts |
If you do not have a scale that will weigh in grams take it to a jeweler they would have a scale.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
"A 1943 steel cent that has been copper plated (or copper "washed") Is still magnetic. "
You got it backwards there westernsky.
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Replies: 36 / Views: 6,054 |
Posted 12/30/2013 9:17 pm
