Anyone Familiar With The Cause Of This Phenomena? Zinc Lincoln Memorial Cent / LMC 'S Only

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 1,803
HGK3 Pillar of the Community United States 574 Posts	Posted 03/07/2021 6:05 pm I'm sure this has been addressed before, but I don't what to call it so can't effectively search for it. Acquired a batch of LMC's recently and noted this on the obverse and reverse of various 1980's zinc plated LMC's, some more than others, but only on the zinc ones. It has an initial appearance of mold, but can't be removed (and copper is an effective fungicide, so that's out). It doesn't appear to be due to buffing or any other mechanical action. It always seems to start in the center of the coin. It is darker in the photos and in hand appears more of a lighter, silvery gray color. I've seen it occasionally in the past, but this batch of cents has it frequently. 2 examples from the batch below. Any thoughts? Report this Post to the Staff

coop Bedrock of the Community United States 62064 Posts	Posted 03/07/2021 6:07 pm I always figured this to be burn marks on the cents with a cigarette lighter. Not a plus for the coin, but just a spender. Keep the best, spend the rest. It wasn't there when the coin was struck. Report this Post to the Staff
Coinfrog Bedrock of the Community United States 94367 Posts	Posted 03/07/2021 7:23 pm Agree, burn marks. As if the Zincolns don't have enough problems already. Report this Post to the Staff
td5173 Pillar of the Community United States 565 Posts	Posted 03/07/2021 7:51 pm @coinfrog Report this Post to the Staff
Coinfrog Bedrock of the Community United States 94367 Posts	Posted 03/07/2021 8:21 pm Just think - the nasty, unstable, hateful Zincolns have been around almost 40 years now, basically the same span as the beloved wheat-backs of 1909-1958. They are pumped out by the billions with apparently little effort at quality control, and they are notorious for deteriorating over time even left alone in a stable environment. And yet - they're collected avidly. Report this Post to the Staff
macmercury Pillar of the Community United States 5833 Posts	Posted 03/07/2021 10:28 pm Now try and figure what is the brand of that lighter that leave that kind of burn marks. Report this Post to the Staff
HGK3 Pillar of the Community United States 574 Posts	Posted 03/08/2021 7:14 pm Well, I appreciate the input, but I remain skeptical of the burn/lighter theory. As I said, the pictures came out darker than in hand. Overall, the color is closer to silver/gray than what appears. The marks aren't soot, as they don't wipe or wash off. It could be the copper plating blistering off due to heat, but here's a couple of close up which don't show any obvious blistering or heat related rippling. Thanks for your time! Report this Post to the Staff
coop Bedrock of the Community United States 62064 Posts	Posted 03/08/2021 7:26 pm Note the last image, how the darkened area is not peeling off and still showing the plating. So something altered the outside edge plating. (Torched) PSD. Report this Post to the Staff
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Anyone Familiar With The Cause Of This Phenomena? Zinc LMC's Only