1976 S Cent Plating Error In Sealed Bicentennial Mint Set

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Author	Replies: 8 / Views: 4,272
SMPTX New Member United States 8 Posts	Posted 02/01/2021 9:15 pm Hi I am new to the community and thanks for allowing me to part of this valuable community. My Grandfather was a coin collector and passed in 1992 and left his collection to my dad who was also a collector. My dad passed last June. My Mom asked me to go through the hoards of coins. I am a novice, but good with internet research. I came across a sealed 1976 Bicentennial US Mint set (one of many) that has a 1 cent 1976 "S" in the unopened set. What caught my eye was the unusual plating on the front of the coin. Almost looks like an eclipse of mostly a thin layer copper and the last 1/3 exposing the tin/zinc. Is this common? I have read a few postings online with similar odd errors, but each one was questionable coming from circulation or from an unsealed set. I did not want to remove the coin from the proof case to weight it just in case. If this is just a worthless error, I can accept that, but if something to pursue, I equally would accept that as well. Thank you in advance for your insights. Report this Post to the Staff

halfamind Pillar of the Community United States 1501 Posts	Posted 02/01/2021 9:32 pm "Zincolns" did not come on the scene until 1982. Not sure what is going on with that 1976-S Proof Lincoln. Report this Post to the Staff
ijn1944 Bedrock of the Community United States 19226 Posts	Posted 02/01/2021 9:40 pm The '76 S proof cent is copper, not plated copper/zinc. Some form of environmental agent caused the 'toning' on the coin's surface. Those cases are not airtight. Would appear that something circular 'masked' a portion of the coin in question. One can find all forms of oddities in mint sets. Kinda cool. Edited by ijn1944 02/01/2021 9:41 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Coinfrog Bedrock of the Community United States 94367 Posts	Posted 02/01/2021 9:56 pm to the CCF! Report this Post to the Staff
SMPTX New Member United States 8 Posts	Posted 02/01/2021 9:57 pm @ijn1944: "The '76 S proof cent is copper, not plated copper/zinc. Some form of environmental agent caused the 'toning' on the coin's surface. Those cases are not airtight. Would appear that something circular 'masked' a portion of the coin in question. One can find all forms of oddities in mint sets. Kinda cool." Thanks for the feedback. So possible Coin damaged by mint packaging sealer. The back of coin looks normal, not sure what the exposed silver color is that is mostly noted in the high areas of the coins front - even more noticeable in the last right third that is missing the high gloss copper. No damage noted to the other coins, no signs that the case has been opened. Kind of odd the reverse is normal and appears like a normal proof coin. I checked the other coins in the set and found no abnormalities. Report this Post to the Staff
SMPTX New Member United States 8 Posts	Posted 02/01/2021 10:00 pm Thanks CoinFrog! Report this Post to the Staff
smat45 Pillar of the Community United States 2342 Posts	Posted 02/02/2021 06:36 am Looking forward to seeing many of this 3rd gen collection! smat Report this Post to the Staff
Kcm Valued Member United States 284 Posts	Posted 02/02/2021 06:48 am I should, perhaps, keep my thoughts out of discussions shaped by the experts, but no; I'll forge ahead like a fly to the spider's web. I suggest that the coin was struck on a well-aged, already polished planchet which laid long half covered by another planchet before being struck. As I study my too, too many old proof sets, discrimination. i.e. great respect for the silver, deference to the nickel, and downright disrespect for the copper seems to have carried many a day in San Francisco. I know how Lincoln must feel. Kevin Edited by Kcm 02/02/2021 06:49 am Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 189673 Posts	Posted 02/02/2021 4:43 pm to the Community! Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
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