"Silver" 1994-D penny

[Guest]

I got this one at work. It appears to either be plated or zinc/sodium hydroxideed but my local coin dealer thinks it's an error. What do you think?

[1gtsfan]

I would say it is an unplated cent. It would be considered an error coin. Here is link for more info on unplated cent errors:

http://error-ref.com/unplated-cents.html

[willbrooks]

I would say it is an unplated cent. It would be considered an error coin. Here is link for more info on unplated cent errors:

http://error-ref.com/unplated-cents.html

That doesn't look unplated to me from the photos. An unplated cent will still show flow lines and luster.

[1gtsfan]

so then it would be a plated cent.

[MoneyMaker]

Weigh it, if its over 2.6 grams id say its plated over with zinc by someone else. If its around 2.45 Grams maybe an un-plated error. I cant imagine there being too much difference in weight between a regular copper plated zinc and an un-plated zinc since the copper plating is extremely thin.

[willbrooks]

The color in the 2 photos is dramatically different. It is difficult to get a true feel for the actual color of this cent. I don't see any definitive signs of replating either, but maybe the pictures are deceptive. Tainted plating bath, or environmental exposure can also alter a cent's color. I can't make a definite determination going by that set of photos.

[GrumpyEd]

To me the pics don't look silver, it still looks yellow except for part of the rim.
Color is hard to tell from pics. It does look flat and washed out.

It might even be something simple like going through a washing machine once, I've seen where one wash cycle can take the plating off the rim and make the surfaces look lighter. They get beat up from dryers or staying in a machine for a long time but one cycle with clothes is pretty subtle.

[coop]

On my screen it looks like a normal cent in color.

[jfines69]

I must agree that it looks normal... If it was not plated it would be gray to almost black in color because of the zinc getting contaminated!!!

[admrose]

This is why zinc is a horrible choice for plating; everything and anything can damage it or cause a reaction.

[bugo]

It looks like a shinier version of a steel cent. I acknowledge the photos don't show the true color very well.