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 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,679 |
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Valued Member
United States
119 Posts |
So I bought these several years ago when I was a noob. I think I may have bought "replicas" of the 1943 steel cent instead of the real deal, because these are rusting in a very funny way. The other real 1943 steel cents I have are very worn and don't look anything like this. IIRC, I didn't pay much for them, maybe a dollar or two. Are these real? or fake "replicas?" Thank you as always, AC   |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
8938 Posts |
They look real, just heavily rusted
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Agree, they're genuine but badly rusted.
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Valued Member
 United States
119 Posts |
Wow no kidding, I can't figure out what I possibly did to them to make them rust so heavily.
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Forum Dad
 United States
24148 Posts |
Nothing. The sheets were coated not the planchets so the edges are very rust prone then it works it's way inward.
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Pillar of the Community
7234 Posts |
Possibly stored in a bad enviroment - you live by the ocean?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1695 Posts |
I have some that look just like that.
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Real deal . Looks like they where salvaged from a U.S. Naval ship that was sunk during WWll (1943) .  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7613 Posts |
I got a feeling that the zinc plating was stripped off of these and they were left out unprotected. They are now rusting away.
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Valued Member
United States
119 Posts |
Quote:
Possibly stored in a bad enviroment - you live by the ocean? No, that's the weird thing, none of my other coins look like this. All of my other coins have stayed in the condition that I bought them in. I bought these in mint condition and every time I pulled them out to look at them they had more of this crusty stuff on them. Quote:
Real deal . Looks like they where salvaged from a U.S. Naval ship that was sunk during WWll (1943) Dang, maybe I should sell them on ebay as WWII sunken treasure! Quote:
I got a feeling that the zinc plating was stripped off of these and they were left out unprotected. They are now rusting away. That seems the most plausible explanation. But what purpose would the plating be stripped off for? So what do I do with these buggers? Toss them? I'm afraid to mix them in with any of my coins - they might be contagious! I've attached an image of my other 1943's. These are not rusted in the same manner, the rust isn't crusty and raised. I stored these separately from the others (because the others were mint condition when I bought them.) They were stored in separate containers, but always in the same room and in the same box.  AC |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4691 Posts |
Well, they are really ugly! But you already know that.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1937 Posts |
Your hand caused that...moisturize
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Pillar of the Community
United States
743 Posts |
My guess is the previous owner dipped them in tarn-x at some point, made them shiny for a while, but took off any protection they had...
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
24885 Posts |
Nothing to lose !   |
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Valued Member
United States
119 Posts |
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Nothing to lose ! Exactly my train of thinking last night! I read a post about someone who cleaned them with lemon juice and had amazing results, so I am giving that a shot! I'll post pics if it works out. Quote:
Well, they are really ugly! But you already know that Yes, yes, I know. But they're my coins, so they're special :) Quote:
My guess is the previous owner dipped them in tarn-x at some point, made them shiny for a while, but took off any protection they had... Yup, I think something was done to them. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5770 Posts |
Remember that lemon juice is a mild acid (caustic) and will dissolve the metal as well as the rust.
Look at the edges of your circulated coins. You will probably see narrow streaks of rust. That is a diagnostic of an original coin that has not been messed with (replated). Like Bobby131313 said in #5, sheets were plated before getting cut out so there will be NO zinc on the edges. Being unprotected they are prone to light rusting.
My guess is that the coins were replated over existing rust. If they were real shiny when you got them, that is a good indication.
And the reason people will intentionally damage a coin like this is for the $. No one buys a worn steel cent when they can buy a "new" shiny one. (Most of us have fallen for this, by the way.) But as a collector these are considered damaged coins, just like recoloring or modifying a coin after it is struck (PSD- POST Strike Damage).
Words of encouragement are one of the major food groups.
We need to consume them regularly to thrive and grow.
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Replies: 17 / Views: 2,679 |
Posted 10/24/2018 4:31 pm
