1957D Metal Composition?

[daggit]

Is this typical to find an edge like this on Wheat cents, I have never noticed it before so thought I would ask. The obverse has a siver tinge to it so I checked the edge and noticed the separation between the 2 metals. There is a small portion of the edge that looks to be only copper.
Thanks

[eagames]

It should be 95% copper and 5% zinc.

That edge looks strange, maybe it has some sort of planchet defect.

[daggit]

Thank you Ed

[coppercoins]

Normal 1957D cents are a 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc mixed alloy. Alloy meaning that the metals are mixed together while molten, as opposed to clad which has separate metal layers that are bound together, like quarters and dimes.

What you show appears to have characteristics of clad, which is not correct for any U.S. made cent. Even the zinc cents are a solid body of zinc plated in copper, thus the outer edge appears to be all copper.

So, you have one of two things, the first being more likely...

1. A coin that was partially cleaned or partially exposed to environmental damage. If it sat in something very shallow and liquid, then the liquid dried, this could be the result.

2. An error coin struck on the wrong stock or an incorrect planchet - very unlikely.

[n1tot]

Also could be a blank or planchet struck on an improper alloy mix, this is a quote taken from Alan Herberts book, price guide to mint errors, ( A coin struck on a blank or planchet made from a coin metal alloy which was defective because of a failure to properly process, heat, or mix the metals, or defective by adding the wrong metals or omitting metals before pouring the ingot, showing on the struck coin as mottled or streaked metal. )
Daggit, does that silver band go all the way around the coin, and a picture of the obverse and reverse could tell more also..........

[coop]

Solder? Maybe buffed off a little in a garage? Usually done with heat, but I remember in the 1960's there was a product that was like a glue (in a tube) that was sold then. I don't remember if it took on or not, just saw it once.

[eagames]

Cent composition is different depending on what book you read. Some also say the shellcase cents were more propaganda but then I see they do have a different color or streaks so I think they are different.

Most books say there is no tin from 47-58, not sure if it's true but that's what they say.
Also most books just say 5% zinc and tin for ones with tin but they don't say the breakdown.
Not sure it matters, no way to easily tell anyway.

1909-1942 95% copper and 5% zinc and tin.

1943 Steel coated with zinc

1944-1946 are shellcase bronze
almost same as 95% copper and 5% zinc and tin.

Some books say 47 is still shellcase, others say mid year it changed and others say 47 was normal. I see they look a bit different so I think some are shellcase.

1947-1958 95% copper and 5% zinc.

1959- mid 1982 copper and 5% zinc and tin.

1982 mid year to present copper plated zinc.

[Dick]

Sandra, is the "silver-looking' face have a dime, by any chance? The edge looks exactly like my 11 cent coin.
Dick

[daggit]

Hi, thanks for all the responses. The cent is the same thickness and size as a regular cent and other than the odd color I would not have taken a second glance. I will shoot a pic of it next another 57 to see if you can tell the difference however my camera doesn't always reflect the true color in hand. I am inclined to think Chuck's #1 explanation is likely what occurred with this.
Sandra

[Dick]

Sandra, if the coin has not been " worked on", it is lie that Chuck has the right answer, as you believe. I was going by the edge, and my 11 cent cime.
Dick

[daggit]

Ahhh I see Dick ....well really this has all got so technical I really don't understand any of it however here is a pic of the color difference, the reverse is a little darker and more copper colored which correlates with the copper edge. The silver colored edge runs along the obverse side except a short portion which looks all copper. Confusing?

[Dick]

Dandra, it was the second picture, that had me believing it might be a "garage-job", where they soldered a dime, and a cent together, after grinding the two coins down to make a "more-or-less, normal thickness type coin. I also have a "silver cent". I has been chromed. I should keep a "ready file" of these odd-balls, so they could be seen, when the occasion calls for it, but they are on photobucket, and there are many, many pages! Enjoy your weekend, as others are doing. Have fun, and above all, STAY SAFE! Dick

[eagames]

I'd say it's probably what CD said:

"A coin that was partially cleaned or partially exposed to environmental damage. If it sat in something very shallow and liquid, then the liquid dried, this could be the result. "

But if you still think it's something else like a wrong planchet the only way to see is weigh it on a good scale. For sanity sake weigh another normal one on the same scale and compare. Normal should be about 3.11 grams. A coin shop or jeweler might have a good enough scale.

[Dick]

As ED said, normal woould be about 3.11 grams, but if it was '81, or older. "82 has a mix, zinc, 2.5 grams, and copper, 3.11 grams. "('83 Has been reported to have copper), (3.11 grams), so use a coin dated '84, or later for a sample.
Dick