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 Replies: 16 / Views: 1,964 |
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New Member
United States
12 Posts |
An oddball. Took to our biggest coin gold and silver buyer. He has $15,000.00 hand held spectrometer. Verified weight. It is 35% zinc, 0.60% iron, copper 64.4%. Crazy. Should be either 95% copper or 97.5 zinc Couple of self described experts tell me it's either a test or experimental planchett. Ideas? Thanks in advance  |
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New Member
 United States
12 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
 Looks like environmental damage/corrosion.Photo of reverse? Where are you seeing doubling? John1  |
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New Member
United States
12 Posts |
It may just be Machine Doubling on the o and n of ONE cent on reverse. It looks different in person. |
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New Member
United States
12 Posts |
Heritage Auctions thinks it's one of a kind. They want me to have Anacs authenticate it, grade it, and verify composition. Then they want it. Anacs is working with me to see how they can do it. Waiting to hear back from them. Came out of a bank roll with some new 1963ds. Out of two rolls, I have 61 uncirculated.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1657 Posts |
Most likely scenario is that the composition analysis is wrong. The weight isn't too out of line for a normal copper coated zinc cent, and I would expect the color to be much lighter if the composition was brass with that high of a zinc content. Heritage always says that for unverified unlikely errors, get it authenticated then we will sell it. They are not really saying you should get it authenticated, they are saying they aren't interested unless it is. In fact, they normally take care of getting coins graded and authenticated if they feel it is worth it. I hope you have something good, but don't get your hopes up just yet!
Edited by lcutler
03/08/2023 5:28 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4398 Posts |
Quote:
A U.S. penny is made of zinc with a 20 microns thick layer of copper on its surface. https://www.comsol.com/blogs/electr...s%20surface.Quote:
For main metals, such as iron or copper, it measures less than a hundred microns into the sample. https://www.olympus-ims.com/en/insi...ing-xrf-pmi/If the test was done with an XRF machine, it would be able to penetrate the copper plating, so it would be reading part of the zinc core and part of the copper plating. (It wouldn't read 95+% copper or zinc) Did you try getting readings with other zinc cents? They probably would have had a similar result. |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
9863 Posts |
That makes sense Tanman
The OP should check another zincoln with the same XRF device.
"Dipping" is not considered cleaning...
-from PCGS website
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New Member
United States
12 Posts |
He has $15,000.00 hand held spectrometer. Verified weight. It is 35% zinc, 0.60% iron, copper 64.4%.
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New Member
United States
12 Posts |
This shop buys millions of dollars of Gold and Silver and some Coins, daily. Largest in the region and state. They have all the $$$$$$$$$$$ toys (equipment) and know how and what they are doing. They shot it three times and came up with the same results. You haters are just theorizing. Straying away from my question. Accept that it's true and how could this happen. Thanks in Advance.
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
Send it to PCGS and post full slab photos when you get it back. John1 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
Why would the mint be experimenting with composition for 1983? Just asking - seems like they already settled on plated zinc.
The other option is that it's counterfeit. The date looks a bit fishy to me, but why someone would fake such a common cent is another question.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1388 Posts |
This is an interesting one. If you do end up getting it graded by ANACS please keep us posted!
The surfaces do look a bit off, could it be plated with additional copper perhaps? What's the exact weight?
I've never heard of experimental planchets getting to 1983... is anyone aware of a foreign coin with this composition that could somehow have gotten into the Mint's presses? There are, of course, a very, very small number of 1983 and 1983-D cents struck on full copper planchets left over from 1982.
Edited by The Silver Searcher
03/09/2023 1:41 pm
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New Member
United States
12 Posts |
ANACS and I have been communicating about it. They have seen it. They just replied to me and said they don't have the equipment to produce and authenticate the composition. They suggested I send it to NGC. I have an account at PCGS but they ALL take months.
I am kinda numb about it. If you do the drop test, it sounds like copper, not zinc.Two very distinct sounds. Try it sometime on formica is the best way. Use non gradable coins.
If I can get this graded and the composition authenticated, and it's even close to what I already have, it could be one of a kind, and potentially worth $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Anyway, again, I'm just looking for ideas and comments.
Thank you ALL in advance.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1657 Posts |
There are no haters here, skeptics, absolutely. We have seen many metal composition analysis that were wrong. If you are confident then there is only one thing you can do, have one of the major third party graders authenticate it. Otherwise, people will be skeptical, just like here. I really hope you do have something good, keep us informed how you make out.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1657 Posts |
DBM has an excellent idea, have the shop test a normal copper plated zinc cent and see if it identifies correctly. good luck.
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Replies: 16 / Views: 1,964 |
Posted 03/08/2023 3:30 pm
