1972 D Steel

[Wildman]

Plating would never add 1/3 of a gram. Perhaps multiple layers of thick chrome, but as the OP inquired, there would indeed be a loss of detail.

Personally, I think there are enough unknowns on this one that it should be sent to Mike.

By the way- Kudos to Wildman for approaching this with a logical mindset, doing research and considering resasonable posibilites. It's very easy to get caught ip in what we "hope" something is and ignore reality, much harder to hear others when it's not always what we want.

Thank you for your kind words.

The way I see it, Even if the coin is worthless the things I will learn finding out will be priceless. This old coin will teach us something no matter which way it turns out.

[kloccwork419]

Thats what we like to hear. Not that you KNOW what you have and KNOW were all wrong and KNOW for sure anything. Until its proven as such just put it up.
If it is an aluminum planchet then it would have had to been an aluminum magnet..NOW THEM ARE RARE!!!..lolol

I hope it turns out to be a super rare find and hits all the magazines by storm like the 88 DDO did. If its plated it was done years ago. It looks like a zinc Lincoln stripped but it couldnt be that. Who knows?
Send it to Mike

Thanks for sharing

[snowman]

sounds like its plated with the info here ... normal Cu pennies are 3.1 grams and 1943's are 2.7 grams.
i always thought the steel was heavier than Cu but its not until i looked it up on the periodic table.
Steel is lighter than copper
Plus the magnet test that was mentioned of not being so strong. If it was made of solid steel like a 43, the
magnet test should of been stronger.

[mikediamond]

I would be happy to examine it for you. It's most likely a normal cent that was plated with nickel. This will produce a weak attraction to a magnet. However, the plating shouldn't add as much weight as you indicate. Also, the dull finish is not typical of nickel plating. So I will reserve judgement until I can study it closely. You can contact me directly at mdia1@aol.com.

[willbrooks]

i always thought the steel was heavier than Cu but its not until i looked it up on the periodic table.
Steel is lighter than copper

You found a periodic table that lists steel? I wouldn't trust that one if I were you.

[snowman]

You found a periodic table that lists steel? I wouldn't trust that one if I were you.

Wow..picky. I didn't want to get into a chemistry lesson here,
but i guess that most know that iron and very small percentage (>2%) of carbon changes
it from iron to steel depending what type of steel is wanted

i guess its a loose term

[willbrooks]

Wow..picky. I didn't want to get into a chemistry lesson here,
but i guess that most know that iron and very small percentage (>2%) of carbon changes
it from iron to steel depending what type of steel is wanted

i guess its a loose term

Perhaps I am, in fact, being picky, but in a discussion like this, please forgive me, I feel it is important to be. Allow me to defend myself:
First you said that you compared steel to copper, but in actuality you really compared iron to copper, small as the difference may be. Furthermore, several small differences add up to larger discrepancies. For example, add to that the fact that a SMALL cent has never been made from copper. Granted terms like bronze and brass are a bit nebulous, but the fact is now we are talking about 5% of the coin that isn't copper either. So now, you are actually comparing the wrong number to the wrong number. I am not trying to be combative in any way, and it is these kinds of "loose terms" that lead to confusion and set backs to the newer collectors, like myself. Unfortunately, English is a living language, or someone could just fix it, lol. Sorry for being anal. Perhaps it's a fiber imbalance in my diet. /end threadjack/

[liveandievarieties]

I think each party has made their point very well. Each is clearly quite intelligent and nearly saying the same things in different ways. I'm sure everyone understands eachother, I agree with each subsequent post but don't feel there's a need to take this tangent any further.

Looking forward to the results when Mike examines the coin!