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 Replies: 18 / Views: 10,269 |
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Valued Member
United States
193 Posts |
I've had this penny since I worked as a cashier in the 80's. It caught my eye, so I bought it from the till. Anyway, the scratches were there when I got it, much to my dismay. The discolored areas on the obverse are sticky and they seem to be from duct tape, and, honestly, I can't explain that. I certainly am not in the habit of storing coins with duct tape! Here are some pictures. The color in the pics isn't as true as the color of the coin. It's definitely more of a nickel kind of shade.     |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Your coin is almost certainly a normal copper cent that has been plated post-mint, a magnet and scale should confirm it.
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Valued Member
 United States
193 Posts |
I did check it with a magnet before I took the pics. It's not magnetic. And, I just weighed it with a scale accurate to .1 gram (I know, I need a more sensitive one) and it weighs 3.1 grams
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
I believe zinc plated. looks like some copper coloring showing through on obverse. IMO
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1388 Posts |
I'd say plated with something.
Also, be careful, because people were known to use mercury to plate coins before its dangers were known.
Not sure that's what you have, but it seems to be a possibility.
Perhaps someone more knowledgeable than I will chime in and confirm/deny?
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
From Biokemist, Quote:
a magnet and scale should confirm it.  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
Quote:
I did check it with a magnet before I took the pics. It's not magnetic plated.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7390 Posts |
And it's off by 2 years if your thinking aluminum  |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Maybe mercury. John1  |
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Valued Member
United States
193 Posts |
Yikes, if it's mercury, should I put it in some kind of air tight container?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5964 Posts |
You don't want to touch mercury. It is not zinc, it would have oxidized by now. It could be platinum or silver or nickel..
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5964 Posts |
Quote:
I bought it To help ensure that you (or anyone else) do not, it might be a good idea to dispose of it. When in doubt, throw it out. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
CoinMasters, -- he's already had the coin in his possession for about 30 years.
Just Sayin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2651 Posts |
Judging by the marks above the date and on the reverse by cent it looks like someone a) unsuccessfully tried to scrape beneath the plating...or b) scraped the coin before it was plated so it appears to not be plated. Mercury isn't bad for ya....its in Tuna and in Vaccines  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2376 Posts |
When I was a kid my dentist would give me a drop of mercury in my hand. Tons of fun to play with it rolling in my palm like a liquid BB. Yeh... I'm old !
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5964 Posts |
Yeah, maybe it's not as bad as they say. I'm pretty old too, still carrying around a lead pencil point in my leg from the fifth grade. It's a wonder I don't melt and you don't boil over. lol
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Replies: 18 / Views: 10,269 |
Posted 05/18/2015 4:10 pm
