1975 Steel Penny Very Good Condition

1.5 million aluminum cents were struck in 1974 at the Philadelphia Mint, none were released into circulation and virtually all of them were melted. Several were given to members of Congress on the financial committee that oversees mint operations. Most were returned but at least one was not and the Toven Specimen is the only one known to exist in private hands. Even though none were officially struck at Denver in 1974, one was found a couple years ago but it has since been seized by the US Mint when it hit the auction block. This sole example from Denver was not an official striking and was most likely produced through "mint sport" by a rogue employee. None of the 1975s are known to currently exist but they would have been struck at Philadelphia as were all trial strikes at the time.

Obviously, the 3 gram weight of your coin definitively eliminates the aluminum possibility. The weight also almost certainly excludes it as a steel planchet as well but a magnet test would verify it. Post-Mint plating is the most likely explanation but there is a very small chance the coin was struck on a planchet intended for a foreign coin. That determination would require metal composition testing and extensive research to find a weight and size match for a foreign planchet.

II called Heritage Auction and spoke with a rep there. She verified the 1974 but agreed that there have always been rumors of a few in 1975 coming through. My husband is looking at it right now under my microscope and says that there are a couple of tiny gouges in the beard and it looks like the same colored silver underneath it as well.
I think that I will send it in to be certified as that might give me an answer or two. I like it so I will probably keep it.

A Steel cent should weigh 2.7 grams, Copper should weigh 3.11 grams.

In my opinion, it is plated with something, but the weight is a little off, or your scale is off.

Let us know what you find out about it.

This is her husband. So far it didn't react to a fridge magnet. Tomorrow we will get a good magnet and see.
As for photoshopping, I can hardly figure out my phone and we have to many other things to do.
As for the electrolysis, I didn't see any copper under the surface where it was scratched. Unfortunately the photo we posted was resized so it could be uploaded.
We will do some more work on it tomorrow, but keep the ideas coming. (This is a 1975 and they didn't clad the copper until 82?)

I think that I am leaning toward the unverified cent (s) that allegedly made it through in 1975. The 1974 were mostly melted.
This is a great way to cut my teeth in the realm of coins.

Oh yeah, I forgot to add that the first possibility I gave is the most likely and second is much less likely.

Also, I didn't include aluminum cents because the weight given already disqualified that possibility.

Consideder that it may have been plated AFTER it got it's gouges/hits/scratches.

and aluminum has to be ruled out because of the weight.

Keep up posted but I am thinking it's copper plated.