cent with a thick planchet

[Robert]

In change today I got a 1993 cent that is noticeably thicker than usual. It seems to be about the same thickness as a proof cent (this is no proof coin). I was wondering what, in the minting process, would cause this thicker than normal coin to be produced. Increased die pressure? Poor quality control in the rolling department? I've seen coins thicker on one side than the other but this one is uniformly thick.

[eagames]

Might be from a mint set.

The modern mint set coins have higher rims.
If you put them in a roll it takes less coins to fill a tube.

[mikediamond]

If it's normal weight, then you're probably dealing with a strong strike. I'm not sure, but the rim gutters of cents from 1991- 1993 might also be a little deeper than usual. Thick appearing edges are rather common in these years.

[coppercoins]

Not sure whether this is related, but I will toss it out there anyway...

Back in 2001 - the last year for canvas bags of cents - I bought a brand new canvas bagful. In that bag I pulled about two dozen partial collar strike coins with thin, small 'railroad' areas around the edges of the coins.

I also happened to notice that there were about a hundred examples of what I would have called a "proof rim" - very sharp, thick rims. My best guess was that these were nothing more than extra-strong strikes. The die pair with the noted rims were the same dies as other 'normal' coins in the bag.

[mikediamond]

I would imagine your guess is correct, Chuck. A particularly strong strike will create a wide-edge, squared-off edges to the design rim, and an overall proof-like appearance to the design rim.

[coppercoins]

I might also help by including the following (type as I remember things - getting old, memory not that great...)

The subject coins with the sharp, thick rims also had a more shiny "proof-like" appearance to the surfaces, and - more importantly - weaker outer periphre lettering with what looked like spider web spoke lines around the obverse in various areas from coin to coin. Both of these anomalies can be the effect of over-pressure struck coins.

The appearance gave off the inpression that a lot of stress was involved in the strikes of said coins. They "looked" over-squeezed, for lack of a better term.