1993 Penny Mistake

Since 1982 Lincoln cents have been made of pure zinc with an electroplate of copper. Any post-1982 cent, if cut in half, will reveal a silver colored core. Sometimes cents end up going through the entire minting process and are releaed into mainstream circulation that never received their bath in copper. This is what it appears you may have. Problems do exist in this area, however:

1. The copper plating can be removed from the coins revealing the zinc core making them look like they never had the copper.
2. Coins can easily be plated in zinc or nickel.
3. Some forms of environmental exposure can turn the coins dark and discolor them.

From the image provided it appears as though you have an original unplated zinc cent. Someone with experience should probably see the coin in person to determine whether or not it is genuine...many of the minute markers used to determine authenticity would be things best done in person - such as microscopically examining the piece, weighing the piece to within a tenth of a gram, etc.

If it's real, you have a valuable error. If it's one of the more than 75% that's not real, you have a spender.

Thank you

I never saw a coin like that and was curious. I now see the swirls on the coin.

even though the experts have chimed in I thought I would say that it still won't hurt to get an opinion from someone that can see the coin in hand. I have to say I thought the same thing foundinrolls said at my first sight of the coin but it is still worth getting checked out