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 Replies: 11 / Views: 7,485 |
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New Member
United States
2 Posts |
I have recently come across a 1974 d penny weighing in at a hefty 3.40 grams and I am unable to figure out why. It is also nearly twice the thickness of a standard penny. Anyone have any ideas? I'm well aware of the many changes that happened in 74 such as aluminum pennies that became a federal issue and I'm curious if maybe my penny had been minted on a different planet. Obviously it wasnt aluminum but I havent found any other possible reasons unless it was just a thicker planchet.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10635 Posts |
From material I have read, the mint tolerance on US cents is +/- 1%, which on a 1974 cent would be 2.79g on the lighter side. So, your cent is right there within tolerance.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1655 Posts |
It's a little bit heavy, it happens. Planchet was a little thicker than it should be, not that unusual.
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
 to CCF. Photos might help. John1  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
 to the CCF! |
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Moderator
United States
187570 Posts |
to the Community! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Tolerance range is +/- .13 grams so a regular cent could weigh as much as 3.24 grams. Your coin is slightly out of spec by .16 grams. I would say it is struck on a slightly rolled thick planchet, but not so far out of spec to be worth a significant premium. I don't think there would be serious interest until it was at least .3 to .4 grams out of spec. Coins slightly out of spec are not that hard to find if you go looking for them. And Merclover the tolerance for Lincoln Cent are +/- .13 g for the copper ones, +/- .1 grams for the plated zinc ones. That's 4%. And the 1% figure you quoted earlier would make a minimum weight for a copper cent 3.08 grams not 2.79 grams. |
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Valued Member
United States
117 Posts |
Welcome! You have a scale but nothing to take a picture? Aluminum coins in 1974 weighed just less than 1 gram. Philadelphia minted aluminum coins for Iceland but yours is a denver mint. We look forward to seeing a picture of this beast.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19930 Posts |
Conder...  Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10635 Posts |
I wrote: Quote:
And the 1% figure you quoted earlier would make a minimum weight for a copper cent 3.08 grams not 2.79 grams. Yes, you are right, I did the math wrong. I was taught there is a +/- 1% mint tolerance on US cents, which for a pre mid 82 copper cent would be heavy 3.1g + 1% (.031g) = 3.131g light 3.1g - 1% (.031g) = 3.069g Using the same mint 1% Weight Tolerance for post 82 zinc core/ copper plated cent, the differences would be: heavy 2.5g + 1% (.025g) = 2.525g light 2.5g - 1% (.025g) = 2.475g Hope this helps!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Problem is it is closer to 4% not 1%. As I mentioned for the copper cents it is +/- .13 grams and for the copper plated zinc is is .1 grams. Whatever the source of the 1% figure was was wrong.
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Valued Member
United States
117 Posts |
I found this treasury regulation for Mint weights: The Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe reasonable manufacturing tolerances for specifications in section 5112 of this title (except for specifications that are limits) for the dollar, half dollar, quarter dollar, and dime coins. The weight of the 5-cent coin may vary not more than 0.194 gram. The weight of the one-cent coin may vary not more than 0.13 gram. Without seeing the coin, I think we are contemplating our proverbial navel. Show us the MONEY! lastly include a picture of the cent next to another cent. If it is as thick as you say then it lends to the planchet out of specification.
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Replies: 11 / Views: 7,485 |
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Posted 04/02/2020 05:02 am
