1942 cent struck on white metal

[Gabe]

I saw this on another board, and thought it was appropriate to share it here. The poster says he purchased the coin raw many years ago, without knowing for sure what he had (he probably paid nothing for it) and just had it graded by PCGS. The coin is technically a pattern, not an error. The coin weighs 1.563 grams. It seems to be the first 1942 cent struck on white metal to be graded as a proof. Not a bad find... I wonder if the coin was looked over for doubled dies...











The coin is also currently at auction at

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1102&Lot_No=1328&type=seldom-coinnews-tem022208&ic=

[Robert]

I'd like to know what the composition of the white cent is. Here's one guess...

Assume 100% copper for a "normal" 1942 cent and assume the 1942 cent has the same volume as a "normal" 1942 cent. Based on the weights and the density of metals:

Density of copper=8.93 grams/cubic centimeter.

3.11 grams divided by 8.93 grams/cc equals 0.348 cc volume for both cents. Therefore the density of the white metal is 1.563 grams /0.343 cc or about 4.56 g/cc.

That's very close to the density of titanium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_elements_by_density). Also, titanium has a grey appearance so that's another bit of evidence. Not sure how it polishes though.

So if the white cent is a "pure" metal, I'd guess titanium. Of course, it could be an alloy of 2 or more metals so it could be anything as long as the weighted average of the densities is about 4.56 g/cc.

Yttrium is close to the right density, but titanium is MUCH more common in nature.

If you find out what the mystery metal is, let us know.

[Robert]

more fun with densities...

assuming a volume of 0.348 cubic centimeters for each cent:

a cent made of iridium (the densest natural metal) would weigh 22.650 g/cc times 0.348 cc or 7.88 grams. That's about 2 1/2 times that of a normal copper cent or over 3 times that of a zinc cent. So a roll of iridium cents would weigh >3x that of a roll of zinc cents.


And a lithium cent (lithium is the least dense natural "metal' at 0.534 g/cc) would be 0.534 g/cc times 0.348 cc or 0.186 grams!

It would take almost 17 lithium cents to weigh the same as one copper cent and it would take over 13 lithium cents to weigh the same as one zinc cent. Looked at it another way, one roll of lithium cents would weigh the same as about 3 copper cents or 4 zinc cents!

[Robert]

Can you tell if the coin is thicker than normal? If it is, my calculations would be way off.

(and BTW that is a REALLY amazing coin... never heard of one like that!)

[mikediamond]

It doesn't appear to be a pattern, as the design is the same as an ordinary cent. It would be an "off-metal strike" or an "experimental planchet". It appears to be much thicker than a normal cent, which would mean its density is very low.

[rollmeupabe]

gabe, did it ever sell? I tried the link but it said the auction number was invalid.

[coppercoins]

Umm...wouldn't titanium be nearly impossible to strike with steel dies?

BTW, the design is the same as a normal 1942 proof cent. Good observation, so it wouldn't technically be able to make it as a pattern piece.

I also agree with PCGS in that it appears to be something genuinely struck by the government.

I wonder if it's magnetic?

[ken]

When this was first posted,I think it was bid at $28.000+.I do not know the final sale price.

[eagames]

The latest......

The owner said he thinks it is aluminum.

After it was offered for sale some people suggested that the metal content and weight should be noted on the holder so the auction was pulled and coin back to PCGS to have that added and reholdered.

I bet it gets more money when it returns with that on the holder.

There are other strange 1942 cents out there from when they were looking for an alternatives to copper before making the steel cents including aluminum and even some made of bake-o-lite plastic.

[ken]

I'd like to see one of those bake-o-lite examples.

[KurtS]

What a fascinating coin, particularly the thickness. Wouldn't it be tough to determine composition by either appearance or specific gravity since there are so many possible alloys? I'm surprised the secret service hasn't tried to grab it, but perhaps they're past all that?