What Is A Grey 1925 Wheat Cent? - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 18 / Views: 1,057	Page: of 2
Kaioti23 New Member United States 19 Posts	Posted 05/13/2023 9:10 pm It is something I bought in an online estate auction run by a reputable local auction house for $13. Foolish maybe but I kind of just want to know what it is $13 bad. The estate looked to be a not very serious silver guy. It is on it's way right now, so I will get photos of my own tomorrow. Tonight however I cannot wait to see what you guys think. Forgery? $100K? Plastic? 1c? These are the photos from the auction. Edited by Kaioti23 05/13/2023 9:11 pm Report this Post to the Staff

Dearborn Moderator United States 96580 Posts	Posted 05/13/2023 9:25 pm It looks like it was plated at some point. Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
Coinfrog Bedrock of the Community United States 94367 Posts	Posted 05/13/2023 9:34 pm Genuine, likely plated, details coin with environmental damage, no collector value in this condition. to the CCF! Report this Post to the Staff
Kaioti23 New Member United States 19 Posts	Posted 05/13/2023 9:56 pm What do you suppose they plated it with? I doesn't look like silver. Al maybe? Zinc...but why, lol. I thought it looked kinda zinc-y. Edited by Kaioti23 05/13/2023 9:59 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Halo1st Pillar of the Community United States 2775 Posts	Posted 05/13/2023 10:28 pm Quote: What do you suppose they plated it with? I doesn't look like silver. Al maybe? Zinc...but why, lol. I thought it looked kinda zinc-y. Hard to tell, but you might add rub with mercury to the list. Thanks, Doug. Report this Post to the Staff
Dearborn Moderator United States 96580 Posts	Posted 05/13/2023 10:35 pm a high school chem experiment? Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
Kaioti23 New Member United States 19 Posts	Posted 05/13/2023 10:52 pm Oh I didn't know that your could do that with mercury. Just read a bit on amalgams, neat stuff. Will that effect the weight negatively or positively? Positively correct? Report this Post to the Staff
Dearborn Moderator United States 96580 Posts	Posted 05/13/2023 10:55 pm Yes, there would be a slight weight gain. But if the coin was light before the plating, it could weigh normal after the plating. Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
Sap Moderator Australia 16836 Posts	Posted 05/14/2023 01:55 am Almost certainly plated; possibly zinc, possibly nickel - I suspect the latter because zinc would probably have turned black by now, plus zinc doesn't turn green, while nickel does. It almost certainly won't be mercury, because mercury slowly evaporates over time, and the silvery colour of a mercury-washed copper coin fades back to copper again after a few decades. As for "why", that's impossible to know unless you were there watching the plating happen. Maybe someone was trying to make a penny look like a dime (which is, of course, illegal). Maybe someone was just fooling around with chemicals. I personally own a "plated" Australian 2 cent piece, that looks silvery; it's zinc plated, and I only know this because my dad (a chemistry lecturer at university) made it as part of a chemistry demonstration. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis Report this Post to the Staff
Kaioti23 New Member United States 19 Posts	Posted 05/14/2023 4:56 pm Ok, I got my penny today. Under the assumption that it was plated I took a baby toothbrush and a bit of water and gently knocked what dirt I could off. I also though that the green stuff was copper stain but it came right off with light brushing. Then I noticed that all the dings were plated too, so it must be a recent plating, because as far as I can tell there is no discoloring in or around any of the dings. I tried to see if there were any thin spots in the plating, but I can't find any so they did a good job. It weighs 3.21. Here are more pics. My microscope is messed up so. sorry they aren't better. If you want me to try again I will and I'll replace the images here. Report this Post to the Staff
Coinfrog Bedrock of the Community United States 94367 Posts	Posted 05/14/2023 6:22 pm Plating is the only logical answer, and the weight confirms it. Just a junk coin, sorry. Report this Post to the Staff
Kaioti23 New Member United States 19 Posts	Posted 05/14/2023 6:28 pm Ah thats cool with me, I just wanted to see what is was when I bought it, and I kind figured. :) Report this Post to the Staff
HondoB Bedrock of the Community United States 25327 Posts	Posted 05/14/2023 9:37 pm Coins rubbed with mercury will have a bright shiny mirror-like finish. How do I know? Friend's dad showed us how to make our steel LWCs look like new again back in the early '70s. Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures Report this Post to the Staff
ijn1944 Bedrock of the Community United States 19171 Posts	Posted 05/14/2023 9:44 pm Yes, yes...plated. If coin's could talk. Report this Post to the Staff
Halo1st Pillar of the Community United States 2775 Posts	Posted 05/14/2023 11:11 pm Quote: Coins rubbed with mercury will have a bright shiny mirror-like finish. How do I know? Friend's dad showed us how to make our steel LWCs look like new again back in the early '70s. Are you suggesting they would look the same today? Thanks, Doug. Report this Post to the Staff
silviosi Pillar of the Community Canada 6244 Posts	Posted 05/14/2023 11:22 pm We can say plated, but in fact it is a very easy to achieve in a solute boiling 2 min. and the cooper coin will achieve a silver color. The bigger damage it is this reaction it is not reversible. Report this Post to the Staff
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