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 Replies: 35 / Views: 6,133 |
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New Member
United States
14 Posts |
hello Can anyone tell me why this coin is gray instead of copper red? My girlfriend found it mixed in her change and at first she thought it was a 1943 steel penny but this coin its an odd looking penny, it looks as it has been coated or something? Thanks. Merry Christmas! Martin.   |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
 to CCF. Looks like environmental damage. Maybe a metal detector find. John1  |
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New Member
 United States
14 Posts |
I've never seen a rusted penny that has turned gray though.. Maybe redish Brown but not gray like this one.. Plus this coin is not heavily circulated or damaged... The letters on the reverse (one cent) are somewhat different from other 1984 pennies!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1295 Posts |
I remember reading somewhere that this is the way zinc pennies react when exposed to extreme heat.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1037 Posts |
For some reason the copper plating was removed giving you a zinc cent. Could have been heat or chemicals, but someone was playing around with it before spending it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4691 Posts |
Looks like it was buried or in a fire.
Edited by jimbucks
12/24/2014 4:27 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Puerto Rico
778 Posts |
Quote:
Looks like it was buried or in a fire.  |
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Valued Member
United States
118 Posts |
Is it possible that it skipped the copper coating making it a lamination error? I have two nickels and a quarter that poss has lamination missing? Just a thought. Merry Christmas CCF members !  Edited by Connicoins
12/24/2014 8:07 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
Environmental damage
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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New Member
United States
14 Posts |
I wonder what kind of environment damage?
This coin was minted in 1984 and it looks like new!it has a minor scratch and the scratch looks silver in color so it looks like there's no copper in this coin...? So the "environmental damage" made the the copper disappear? I also noticed that coin sounds different when dropped! It doesn't sounds like a normal copper coin! Would a grading service grade this coin? And would they tell why the coin is gray?
Thanks guys! blessings and happy new year 2015!
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New Member
United States
14 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
Notice the slabbed coin has luster and the 84 does not. It sounds different when dropped then a copper coin because the 84 is copper plated zinc. Do you have a scale? John1 |
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New Member
United States
14 Posts |
I see...
I don't have a scale but I will take it to a local pawn shop so that can weight it for me to compare it's weight againts a regular 1984 copper cent.
This coins seems to have some luster too.. Maybe I need to try a different camera!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
No such thing as a "regular 1984 copper cent", they are all copper plated zinc. And the weight difference between a regular copper plated cent and one missing the plating is only .05 grams. Since the weight of a regular cent can vary by as much as .2 grams (+/- .1 grams) weighing the coin won't tell you anything.
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New Member
United States
14 Posts |
So I guess I will just get the coin graded and see what happens..?
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
IMHO, I would not spend the money on that. John1 |
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Replies: 35 / Views: 6,133 |
Posted 12/24/2014 3:18 pm
