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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,617 |
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New Member
United States
13 Posts |
I know the picture is not all it's cracked up to be, but the color is what I'd like you to see here. I found this 1995-D cent in change and immediately plucked it out of my pocket. The front and back of the coin are a dull grey with a bit of green/black corrosion on the obverse, the coin itself is thinner than a regular cent, and it makes a very different sound when dropped on a counter. I don't have a scale accurate enough to weigh the coin, but it does feel a bit lighter. Here's the kicker, if I understand lamination problems correctly. All of the details of the coin are sharp. I was under the impression that when the copper clad portion of the coin fell away the remaining zinc layer only held a slight impression of the original imprint. Any ideas? Download Attachment:  coinreverse.jpg10.36 KB |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
This would not be a lamination error. Cents are not clad, they have a copper plating layer (electrolytic plating I believe) so there is nothing to peel off like a standard copper-nickel clad coin. Because nothing is removed, you will still have a full strike. You are correct that a standard lamination problem results in poor detail. I would guess that the metal used to make the planchet was not plated with copper so basically you have a zinc cent with no copper on it. As far as rarity, I have no idea and I will let other ponder that. Excellent find though  |
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New Member
 United States
13 Posts |
Now that's something I didn't know. Great, that's exactly why I brought this here. Everyone seemed so knowledgable in the other error coin posts I read I wanted my cent here, too! So it's possible for a zinc planchet to make it to the presses without the copper layer? Ever seen anything like it before?
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New Member
United States
13 Posts |
Here's the obverse. Again, sorry for the poor image quality. I'll work on that later tonight to see if I can get some better shots. Download Attachment: coinobverse.jpg9.37 KB |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
If what you have is a strike on an unplated planchet - it would be classified as a III-B-7 Error according to the P-D-S system devised by Herbert. As such it is considered a level 6-7 rarity (very rare to extremely rare) and has an indicated value of $100. I would suggest that any error in this particular class needs to be authenticated by an expert. This is such a rarely occuring error that I would be extremely suspicious of a forgery.
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New Member
United States
13 Posts |
I was wondering the same thing, to be honest with you, but rather than a forgery, I was thinking it may have been a plated or painted coin But the thickness difference and the odd sound it made when I dropped it on my counter made me think it may be the real thing. It even has a different smell, for those of you out there who sniff your coins. :-) Great information, by the way. Have any suggestions as to who I might need to take the coin to?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Hi af1733
were going to need better pics of the coin ,, The surface of the coin tells alot about whether this is a genuine error or not ,,
There are ways to remove the copper plating chemically and or electrically as in electrolisis,
I have a couple of these coins one I believe is genuine one I'm sure is altered ,,
Rick
Edited by Metalman
05/05/2006 03:51 am
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New Member
United States
13 Posts |
I've tried several different ways to get a better shot, but I discovered I don't have a macro setting on my camera, and when I take an in-focus picture then blow it up, the image gets just a grainy as the ones I posted above. What should you look for on a cent that has had the copper removed chemically? And wouldn't that distort the image on the coin and make it less sharp?
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New Member
United States
13 Posts |
Also, Metalman, I had a question for you. I saw on your profile that you are from New Mexico and you metal detect. If you don't mind my asking here, since I don't have enough posts yet to e-mail you, where do you hunt? I'm in Clovis and spend a lot of time here and in Portales and Texico, but I'd love to hear about any older places that may be better to find Indians and Barbers and such. The parks here leave something to be desired when it comes to the older stuff. Plenty of silver Rosie's and Washingtons, but few Merc's and older Wheats.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
hi af1733 Here is a pic of a quarter that has been altered removing the clad layer chemically ,, I have not photographed the cents yet, but I will this weekend . Notice the detail of the coin is still pretty much intact.  The cent is about the same the detail is still pretty strong on the chemically altered cent, the electrolisis type cent under magnification will show some pitting,, By the way being a Metal detectorist, electrolisis is a popular cleaning method for dug coins. Rick Edited by Metalman
05/05/2006 1:12 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
af1733
I moved our MDing discussion to the MD forum
Check your email !!
Rick
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New Member
United States
13 Posts |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,617 |
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Posted 05/04/2006 5:43 pm
coinreverse.jpg
coinobverse.jpg
