Damaged Coins

[Bob P]

Horgad,
This is where things can get a little complicated, especially for those relatively new to the hobby. The last 5 of the date on your coin suffers from die deterioration doubling. It is actually very common on 1955 and is known as the 'Poor Man's Doubled Die' It is causes by die wear and is not actually a doubled die. This anomaly can also be sen on other dates in the 50s...most notable being 1953.

[Horgad]

I have so much to learn...

Thanks again for your help.

[Horgad]

Here we go again... I know the copper can be chemically stripped off of zinc pennies to make an odd looking penny, but this one looks like it was never plated to me. The date and lettering don't look dulled at all. So is this a know error or just the results of a really good chemistry experiment?

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg315/horgad/zincfront.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg315/horgad/zincback.jpg
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg315/horgad/zincdatezoom.jpg

[eagames]

I have one just like it and it's also an 82-D.

Being from 1982 it was the first year of zinc cents so a lot of people were fooling around with experiments so it might be from that.

[Horgad]

Maybe something like this experiment:

http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/pa/newsbulletin/2005/03/02/ZincPlatedPenny.pdf

So many ways to mess up pennies...

[Dick]

Chemistry 101. Great! now, what is needed is how to turn zinc into gold!
Dick

[eagames]

Horgad,

Looks a lot like this 82-D.
Found it in a roll but I decided it was an experiment.