The weight is spot on at 2.5 and I've compared it to other zinc pennies to verify the weight. I've seen online where people use chemicals to change the coins color but the large patch of grey at the top made me wonder.
You're most likely right @ chemically altered, question what by and who? Is this Little Johnnie in the Garage with Apple Cider Vinegar(acidic) or buried in acidic soil, or is this a high school science project? I think we must rule out the latter, science has been replaced by safe zones, so take your pick of the others!
It looks to me like a brass plated cent. They have the yellowish color. The plating solution sometimes doesn't get changed often enough, and zinc builds up in it. It's a nice error, valued at over $40. Congratulations, nice find.
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