1957 D Cent...looks silver?

[Guest]

Hey all. I found a 1957 Lincoln D cent in my change jar the other day. The interesting thing about it is it looks almost completely silver. Looking at the edge I do see a hint of copper but it's otherwise completely silver.

A half hour of googling turned up nothing, so I came here. Any idea what it could be? Thanks in advance!

Mike

[Brad]

My initial guess would be a silver plated cent. It is not difficult to electroplate cents with a plating kit.

[Pat]

Hey all. I found a 1957 Lincoln D cent in my change jar the other day. The interesting thing about it is it looks almost completely silver. Looking at the edge I do see a hint of copper but it's otherwise completely silver.

A half hour of googling turned up nothing, so I came here. Any idea what it could be? Thanks in advance!

Mike

Just like brad said.. Also I have seen acid remove all copper/brown and it will look like a steel cent as well..

[Brad]

Just like brad said.. Also I have seen acid remove all copper/brown and it will look like a steel cent as well..

That would only happen on Zinc plated cents. Post 1982. That was my first impulse until I noticed the date.

[Pat]

That would only happen on Zinc plated cents. Post 1982. That was my first impulse until I noticed the date.

I would have to disagree..I have a 1944 cent that appears to look like steel in touch and look, but it's not magnetic and I can see some brown on the edge.. To me it appears to be a acid job..

[mikestorm]

Thanks all. The one possible answer that google turned up is it was stuck on a nickel or dime planchet (meaning the hint of copper on the edge I'm seeing rubbed off from another penny). Is there a quick an easy way to determine it was electorplated vs. struck on the wrong planchet?

[Shingpumps]

Thanks all. The one possible answer that google turned up is it was stuck on a nickel or dime planchet (meaning the hint of copper on the edge I'm seeing rubbed off from another penny). Is there a quick an easy way to determine it was electorplated vs. struck on the wrong planchet?

Not without damageing it. You may want to polish the rim till the plating comes off.

[Wheat Cents]

Plated and not - stories..

Most likely plated... Was looking through a memorial penny book a couple years back . It's 1960 D was plated shiny as could be. It turned out to be RPM 1 . I believe it is a cover Pic in one of my albums here on LCR.

Also 1974 found in a dealers coin box. It was done real nice.... ( No it was not _ )

Also a 1984 struck on zinc , pulled from circ while in NYC in 2002.

If intested in seeing these last two can dig out and post..

[car10]

Most likely plated... Was looking through a memorial penny book a couple years back . It's 1960 D was plated shiny as could be. It turned out to be RPM 1 . I believe it is a cover Pic in one of my albums here on LCR.

Also 1974 found in a dealers coin box. It was done real nice.... ( No it was not _ )

Also a 1984 struck on zinc , pulled from circ while in NYC in 2002.

If intested in seeing these last two can dig out and post..

Please do.

[wavysteps]

One of the most common methods, although a bit damgerous, was to dip it into mercury. That metal will adhere to most any surface and it is a lot faster than electroplating silver onto copper.

BJ Neff

[Pat]

although a bit damgerous, was to dip it into mercury.
BJ Neff

BJ you could chalk that up to the understatement of the year.

[Pat]

That would only happen on Zinc plated cents. Post 1982. That was my first impulse until I noticed the date.

I thought for sure this was an acid job.. But I don't think 53 came in the zinc flavor?

[wavysteps]

I would favor a plating job on that coin. I have two Lincolns that have been plated in gold, a 1951-D and a 1945.

If it were a Mercury dipped coin, it would not show signs of copper beneath since that metal tends to flow and cover bare spots like that.

BJ Neff