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 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,498 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
Hi all, first post and very new to coin collecting. I will post a pic soon, but wanted some opinions in the meantime. I have what looks to be a 1920 lincoln, and it is "flat" for lack of a better word. It is at least half of the thickness of a normal penny, has no rim, but still retains it's features on both sides, although very dull. Seems almost like someone buffed the entire coin down to 1/5 of it's thickness, but it doesn't seem like it would keep any of its features if that was the case. Any thoughts? I will try to post pictures tonight.
Thanks,
Tighe
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Pillar of the Community
United States
577 Posts |
I will help you out (along with many others) as soon as you can post a pic! If possible, put a normal penny next to it in order to compare thicknesses.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2254 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
116 Posts |
WOW!!! That's a cull if I ever saw one. Looks like someone got a little acid happy.  Just my opinion. Michael |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
626 Posts |
I'll go with the acid theory as well.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
Exactly my thought when I first saw it. I just don't understand how ANY part of the coin would even have detail if it was simply scrubbed/acid bath/buffed down. The pictures don't truly show how thin it is. It's less than one third the original thickness. I don't have a mic here at home, but will bring one home from work tomorrow to check actual thickness. If anything, it's a nice edge for scratch tickets. lololol
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Very interesting coin,,I think your right it has too much detail left for an acid bath coin,, the coins surface although a bit grainy is relitively smooth and free of deep pits and pockets.
Im thinking this coin was struck on a thin (Split) planchet one that may have not been completely bonded or perhaps even a foreign planchet ,,although off the top of my head I cannot think of a country who uses such thin planchets that we made planchets for in the US.
Rick
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
I'm inclined to agree with Rick, the coin was struck on an improper planchet. The only thing that gets to me is, being so thin, how was the press able to generate enough force to produce the detail that it did?
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Valued Member
United States
116 Posts |
This was my thought as well. However, how do you were a coin down to a nub without erasing the detail?
Michael
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Pillar of the Community
United States
577 Posts |
In comparison to a normal cent, how does the diameter measure?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
I will take exact measurements tonight when I get home. Here is another pic that has more "distance" to it so everyone can better judge the diameter. With the exception of the rim not being there, it's pretty much standard diameter, which is even more puzzling to me. I guess I will hang onto it and maybe take it to a dealer to get their opinion. Image:  penny 001new.jpg43.52 KB |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
Hi tights
Our resident expert has not check in on this coin yet!! coppercoins will have an opinion which I'm very interested in hearing !!
If you can get the weight and size of the coin posted I'm sure that will help !!
Rick
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
I have some follow up info. I measured the thickness and diameter as best I could with 12" veneers. Not Ideal, I know. Thickness measured in at about .025. Which seems to be about 1/2 of normal from what I can see. The diameter is .710. These are English measurements of course, and I have not converted to metric if that's what everyone needs. Hope this helps a little.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7629 Posts |
Classic case of an acid eaten coin. Some people discovered pretty early on that ANA cid dipped then ground down cent would fit well in dime slots in vending machines and parking meters. Evidently at one time a dime was worth enough for the effort. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2254 Posts |
Thank you coppercoins. I won't beat a dead horse, but I have to know how the heck this thing can keep it's features when it's so flat. Must be one of those things. Regardless, thanks again for everyone's input. This is a great forum for a newbie like myself.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7629 Posts |
It's pretty simple, actually...the coin's mass is the same as the blank planchet, thus the only thing the strike did was compress some areas (the fields) without compressing the devices as much. This gave the final coin relief. When you bathe the coin in acid it eats layers of metal off the coin evenly all over the surface. This preserves the design while eating everything off the coin one layer at a time. The acid does not distort the metal while it eats, because it eats evenly.
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,498 |
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Posted 11/26/2006 5:48 pm
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