1981 United States Proof Set Error ?

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Author	Replies: 4 / Views: 1,140
Hammer420 New Member United States 3 Posts	Posted 08/13/2022 02:59 am This 1981 proof set has an ugly penny inside a sealed plastic display. The coins are all "s" type 1 and besides the penny look to be in good shape. Anyone know why this penny looks like there was an error plating it ? It was my understanding that before 1982 pennies were 95% copper and therefore not plated. The proof set has been in a safety deposit box for the last 40 years. I didn't pay much attention to weather the penny looked like that when it was put in the safety deposit box and haven't looked at in 40 years until today. So your opinion is greatly appreciated. TY Report this Post to the Staff

Yokozuna Pillar of the Community United States 4618 Posts	Posted 08/13/2022 03:34 am to the CCF! You are correct that this coin is not plated. It's a bronze alloy of 95% copper with some tin and zinc. All of the coins have an "S" mint mark showing that they were struck in San Francisco. It looks like someone contaminated the coin by touching it or letting something else come into contact with it. This could have happened at the mint after the coin was struck, or when the coin was placed into the hard plastic holder. The area has toned to a darker brown color. This happens to most copper cents that are circulated, but this coin received a single swipe across it the reverse causing the darker stripe. ANA ID: 3203813 - CONECA ID: N-5637 Clean a coin that may be worth collecting? Please DON'T! When in doubt, leave it dirty!! Report this Post to the Staff
westernsky Pillar of the Community United States 7621 Posts	Posted 08/13/2022 04:20 am I'd guess the coin was contaminated when it went into the packaging some 40+ years ago. Most likely it was miss-handled and breathed on or drooled on. Most everything was packaged by hand back then. Over time the contamination caused the copper to oxidize. It just goes with the territory. Though no longer "perfect", the coin still is very presentable. Do not try to clean it off. to The community! Report this Post to the Staff
Kopper Ken Pillar of the Community United States 3402 Posts	Posted 08/13/2022 08:28 am ...some form of contamination... KK Report this Post to the Staff
JTCC Pillar of the Community United States 797 Posts	Posted 08/13/2022 11:41 pm I agree, contaminated. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 4 / Views: 1,140

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