1984 "Silver" Colored Cent

shanegalang · New Member

I bought a guys collection and this was included.......I have never seen one like it, its the same color as a dime or nickel ect. Why is it not copper?

GarryN · Expert Member

I would guess someone acid treated the coin and took off the copper cladding

coop · Expert Member

Another two possibilities.
1. Plated with crome/steel/silver
2.Could be just the zinc core un plated
3. Plating removed. You need to check next to the rim to see if plating residue is present or check for any copper showing anywhere.

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

Just to add to Coop's list with possible plating metals; mercury.

BJ Neff

shanegalang · New Member

Thanks for the replies. So would you all consider it a "keeper"? Doesnt seem to have any copper around the rim as someone asked. Guess a good conversation peice at best. Shane

Dick · Expert Member

Shane, if that be one that got thru un-plated, it would not be the first to come that way. I agree, check the edges, and/or perimiter for traces of copper. Also note the general condition of the field areas. Keeper? Depends on what your interests are.

Regarding BJ's comment about the mercury.
There is an unknown hazard with mercury.

DO NOT HEAT IT! Especially in an enclosed space. The vapors are deadly poison!!!
Dick

coop · Expert Member

I would keep it as an educational piece. I save stuff like that for other purposes. Check on the edge of the coin. Sometimes the scratches on them reveral copper if it was plated. It looks pitted like a poor plating job to me. You might try a magnet standing it on end. It there is steel plating there it may move the coin. It won't pick it up but you may move it. I've found one like that before that was plated. Still got it just in case I need images of it.

shanegalang · New Member

I've looked with a magnifying glass and find no traces of copper whatsoever. When I turn it the right way in the light, the rime sides shine like a nickel. I have also noticed now and if you look back at the photos the coin is slightly off center to the right.
The 2x2 holder the guy had it in labeled it "1984 All Zinc". I took the liberty of weighing it and she weighed in at 2.5 grams. That was right on for a 1982 to date. So a question. If this coin has been coated with another metal how much more would it weigh? Could it still be within the 2.5 grams weight? Or if copper were removed would it be a significant enough of loss to read a lower grams weight? I also weighed a couple of wheats to make sure my scale is accurate and they were 3.1 grams. I wish my scale would show hundreadths. Thanks for all the input. I forever seek to learn more. Shane

coop · Expert Member

Shane: The off center look is called MAD (MisAligned Die) Notice the obverse looks off center but the reverse is dead on center. The machine was out of alignment when striking. Happens a lot, no extra value for it. Just neat to see.
The material can't be Nickel as it wouldn't fit into the collar and the weight is close for plating missing. (Weather removed or missing.) Might have been diped in acid. You might try the magnet idea. Tilt the coin in your hand and see if the magnet attracks it. It won't pick it up, but will move it if it has been plated with steel. It could be plated with Zinc like the 1943 Steel Cents. It looks rough like it was reprocessed. Hard to tell for sure right now. But maybe Bob or Chuck will chime in. They probably seen more coins than the rest of us here. They may have an idea.

eagames · Expert Member

Shane,

Here's a similar one. It looks like a non plated zinc cent but I think the plating was removed. It has no copper, normal weight and still has cartwheel but if you look close at the details like the steps on the reverse or details of the portrait it seems to have less detail. I'm not sure how it was done but they probably either peeled the plating or used an acid that removes copper without damaging the zinc. It might be that many people did this around 1982 or the next few years just to show that the cents had changed to zinc. There are real non plated ones but also many made in science classes out there too.

I doubt the plating weighs enough to see on most scales.

You might try to get a look at a graded slabbed one with no plating and look at how the surface should look on real ones.

These are one of those things that probably can't tell for sure from a photo.

shanegalang · New Member

All of this has me very curious about other things now. How do they coat the coin in the first place? Is the planchet dipped some kind of way? Or is it actually zinc sandwhiched between copper? Then again I imagine it could be electroplated like 24K Gold is to jewerlry. Honestly dont know about this part of the minting process. I feel kind of like these are dumb questions Embarassed

but guess I wont know if I dont ask. I have a blank planchet which is obviously copper but then again I dont know how old it is. Pre 82 vrs post 82. This really has me wondering! Thanks and thank all of you for the replies so far! Shane

GarryN · Expert Member

An appropriate scale could be used to weigh the coin. If the plating is removed it would be outside the weight tolerance.

eagames · Expert Member

For cents the mint buys the planchets already cut and plated.

The plating is very thin and there is already some tolerance in the planchet weights so weighing the differance might be possible for a given plan before and after plating but one with plating removed might still be within tolerance.

The TPGs will certify if the coin is a real non plated planchet error.

carlb · Advanced Member

If your carefull with electroplating, you could easily plate a coin with Aluminum, Zinc, Tin, Silver, etc. The amount would depend on how long the process was performed and the amount of current utilized. In most school chem labs this is done constantly by students just for the fun of it. A very slight coating on a slightly worn coin would not be noticed since the coating would basically replace the material lost in wear.
Acid dipping is a tuff one though. You have to monitor this process well. Concentrated Sulfuric Acid, H2SO4, will eat the Copper quickly but will also attack the Zind so the process must be fast. This is also done to create CuSO4 which when filtered, evaporated under controlled temperatures will create fantastic, clear, blue crystaline forms.

cnladue · Veteran Member

found this in the street.pretty sure chemical job.bumps.it weighs 2.1 grams on my triple beam.