What Happened To These Coins ?

It is really hard to say what happened to the coins! It appears that they are Post-1982 (Copper Plated Zinc) Cents and they tend to be effected by many things in the environment as well as other contaminants. I doubt that that they were in a fire but I can't be sure without seeing them in person! I would imagine that someone started saving or hoarding these from pocket change in a large container and something was accidentally spilled into the container which began to corrode and eat away the Copper plating on the coins. At the same time, I have found that the Copper Plated Zinc Cents will sometimes react to the container (composition-wise) in which they are stored or react because of it. Also, if they are not stored correctly, they will draw moisture due to temperature changes and this moisture will cause a reaction.


Frank

gagac,

Yes, we all live and learn! Both Coca Cola and Lemon are very corrosive to most metals and many other things as well. Since circulated coins suffer so much from being passed from hand to hand, pocket to pocket, dropped on the ground (sometimes buried for years), being washed in the washing machine, dropped in who knows what, had who knows what spilled on them, then I feel that a light wash, rinse and pat dry can't hurt them anymore than they already have been hurt.
Once they are completely dry and if stored correctly, then the coins should not suffer any more damage. I do find that it is best to store coins of different composition (i.e Copper Plated Zinc Cents and Nickel Cladded Copper coins) separately as the different metals tend to react to each other...especially when contaminants or the environment effect the metals.


Frank

i have found a bunch of these coins