1983 Zinc Vs Silver Penny - Coin Community Forum

To participate in the forum you must log in or register.

Author	Replies: 11 / Views: 19,454
rmsexauer Valued Member United States 234 Posts	Posted 05/04/2017 12:31 am Ok everyone, Here is my next mystery coin. This is a 1983 penny. I found it in a lot of steel 1943 pennies I purchased. It weighs in at 2.5 grams borderline 2.6 grams. I have noticed that silver dime planchets weight 2.5 grams but so do the 1983 Zinc/Copper pennies. My local coin dealer feels that it is Zinc without the thin copper shell. Shouldn't it weigh less if that is the case? Is there any way besides weight or appearance to test if this is silver? Thanks for all input :) Report this Post to the Staff

Biedercoins Pillar of the Community United States 1602 Posts	Posted 05/04/2017 07:01 am Zincoln - the copper plating is only 2.5% of an '83 zinc coin. Edited by Biedercoins 05/04/2017 07:03 am Report this Post to the Staff
John1 Moderator United States 56855 Posts	Posted 05/04/2017 07:09 am Your coin looks like environmental damage to me,not missing the copper plating. John1 Report this Post to the Staff
Potbellypub Pillar of the Community United States 900 Posts	Posted 05/04/2017 07:37 am This could be a plated/science experiment coin if its a little over weight. And then environmentally damaged as well.The fields are bumpy So that means there is plating present. Report this Post to the Staff
coop Bedrock of the Community United States 62064 Posts	Posted 05/04/2017 2:59 pm The bumps you are seeing on your coin is where the plating over zinc dust happened. Looks like someone altered the coin by re-coating with zinc, or by sanding off the plating. PSD. If it were really an un plated example, the surface would be smooth. Note the top coins surface? Report this Post to the Staff
nss-52 Moderator United States 54283 Posts	Posted 05/04/2017 7:20 pm If you question is "is it struck on a silver planchet?" I would have to say no. Dime planchets are smaller, and a cent struck on one would be missing part of the impression. Yours is a full strike. In addition, they quit making silver coins almost 20 years before this coin was struck. Isn't your coin the same size as other cents? Report this Post to the Staff
rmsexauer Valued Member United States 234 Posts	Posted 05/05/2017 1:17 pm It is the same size yes.. Since this post I did however find a 1934 Wheat penny on a silver colored planchet in the same lot of coins I have been going through..it has a fairly smooth surface, is the same size as a regular penny but, weighs in at 3.5 grams..I will post some photos of that this afternoon.. Report this Post to the Staff
John1 Moderator United States 56855 Posts	Posted 05/05/2017 1:18 pm Report this Post to the Staff
rmsexauer Valued Member United States 234 Posts	Posted 05/05/2017 2:05 pm LOL..its up John.. haha.. I'm waiting.. let me go get my popcorn.. haha.. crap I don't have time for popcorn.. I have a mint sewn bag of 1980 pennies and 27 obw rolls of various date pennies/nickels that just arrived that I have to search.. :) I also need to post photos of my DDO 1943 Steel penny.. I don't understand why the DDO-01 is more popular than mine.. mine shows extra letters.. DDO-01 is a boring extra thickness doubling.. :( boo Report this Post to the Staff
CaverHubert New Member United States 2 Posts	Posted 05/19/2017 5:17 pm I also have a 1983 cent unplated, 2.52 g. I assume the copper was removed. Report this Post to the Staff
John1 Moderator United States 56855 Posts	Posted 05/19/2017 5:35 pm to CCF. Start your own thread and include pics. John1 Report this Post to the Staff
CoinMasters Pillar of the Community United States 5964 Posts	Posted 05/19/2017 11:51 pm Quote: If you question is "is it struck on a silver planchet?" I would have to say no. Dime planchets are smaller, and a cent struck on one would be missing part of the impression. Yours is a full strike. In addition, they quit making silver coins almost 20 years before this coin was struck. That's about what I was going to say until I saw where nss-52 said it. So then I had a bright idea.. I was going to call it PSD. Then I realized that was already said too. So I guess I have nothing to add, On second thought though.. with all the above. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 11 / Views: 19,454

To participate in the forum you must log in or register.

All Forums Category: US Coins and Currency Forums Forum: US Modern Variety and Error Coins

Silver Gold Bull US is the United States leading bullion dealer. We deliver gold coins, gold bars, silver coins, silver bars and precious metals to your door. Order today!

The First Dollar, your premier source for bullion and rare coins. See our bullion list on the site and the coin inventory on ebay.

View Last 100 New Topics

View Last 100 Active Topics

Disclaimer: While a tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Coin Community assumes no liability for errors. Copyright 2005 - 2026 Coin Community Family- all rights reserved worldwide. Use of any images or content on this website without prior written permission of Coin Community or the original lender is strictly prohibited.
Contact Us | Advertise Here | Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

Coin Community Forum

It took 0.33 seconds to rattle this change.