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Silver Colored 1948 Penny

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Author Previous TopicReplies: 8 / Views: 482Next Topic  
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uptoadventure76's Avatar
United States
3 Posts
 Posted 01/01/2026  1:46 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add uptoadventure76 to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Hello. New user here. I found this forum when looking for information on some coins.
I have 1948 silver penny in decent shape. It is not magnetic. From what I have read it could be plated? How would I be able to tell? It does not look like the is any copper on this penny. I took photos with a copper penny for reference. I appreciate any insight anyone has to offer.
Silver-Colored-1948-Penny
Silver-Colored-1948-Penny
Pillar of the Community
United States
2830 Posts
 Posted 01/01/2026  2:20 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add coin rejector to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
@uptoadventure76, your 1948 S LWC appears to be plated. Just curious, what is the weight of your coin? Thanks.
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uptoadventure76's Avatar
United States
3 Posts
 Posted 01/01/2026  2:30 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add uptoadventure76 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
My scale is not the best. Just a regular old kitchen scale. It does break down to points. One time I place it it will say 2 grams and one time it will say 3. About 50/50.
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uptoadventure76's Avatar
United States
3 Posts
 Posted 01/01/2026  2:34 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add uptoadventure76 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I'm sorry that should say does not break down to points such as 2.4.
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Errers and Varietys's Avatar
United States
73606 Posts
 Posted 01/01/2026  3:49 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Errers and Varietys to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
To CCF! It appears to be plated. It should be a little heavier than a normal non plated Wheat cent. Not an error. It's PMD.
Errers and Varietys.
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Dearborn's Avatar
United States
94672 Posts
 Posted 01/01/2026  4:39 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Dearborn to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
to CCF.

could be a plated cent. - if plated will weigh more than 3.11g. You should get a better scale - they are cheap and make sure it measures out to at least 0.00 grams.
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sel_69l's Avatar
Australia
21786 Posts
 Posted 01/01/2026  5:06 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add sel_69l to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
If it is plated, (be that plating be it nickel or zinc}, will be very thin,
and should make no detectible difference to the standard weight of 3.11 grams.

If it was pure silver, (perhaps patinated by it's appearance in the pictures), which I strongly doubt, it should weigh about 0.55 grams more, at 3.66 grams.

My strong opinion is that it has been rubbed with mercury, that forms a sort of alloy known as an amalgam with the copper in the surface of the coin.
Over a period of years, there will be some transmigration of the copper and mercury atoms at copper/mercury interface, giving the appearance of re patination.
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Greasy Fingers's Avatar
United States
6988 Posts
 Posted 01/01/2026  10:02 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Greasy Fingers to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
My strong opinion is that it has been rubbed with mercury,
That was my first thought.
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jbuck's Avatar
United States
187582 Posts
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