1963D sounds like silver

[Polish Prince]

Hi. I'm new to the community, and am happy to be here. I've been roll hunting boxes for a few years now, researching my finds, etc. I found a very interesting '63D cent that weighs 2.5g. I know it should be 3.11. I've read about cent-on-dime-planchet errors, but they seem quite rare. A guy at a coin show recently didn't think much of it when I showed it to him, thinking it was within the margin of error for weight, but acknowledged it seemed thinner than it should be. I disagree with his take on the margin-of-error thing. 0.61g less than it should be is WAY off, but WOULD be the weight of a silver dime. The diameter seems right for a cent, but the thickness is that of a dime. I've read of off-metal foreign planchet cents as well. I realize I may be excited about this coin for no good reason, but it sounds like silver when dropped, has the weight of a silver dime, and is thinner than a cent should be. That makes me very intrigued that I might have something very cool. Any thoughts, cent lovers?

PP

[Maineman750]

Welcome to the forum ! You'll find that pictures are always helpful...almost mandatory..for us to answer questions about specific coins. Yours sound like it may be worth sending to an attributer like Mike Diamond, but pics might save you some trouble...there are other possibilities such as acid treated or an altered coin. I agree that the weight is not within tolerance.

[mustbebob]

I agree with Roger. Pics would help a lot. Another possibility is a rolled thin planchet. I have seen them before with a weight near what yours is. If the coin is copper, I would probably bet against a dime planchet and it was still a couple of years before dimes were made with clad layers. We can always hope you've found something special!

[Maineman750]

. Another possibility is a rolled thin planchet.

Of course I forgot the most likely cause Thanks Bob !

[willbrooks]

Welcome to the forum! If it hasn't suffered from a corrosive, then I agree with the others that the most likely cause is rolled-thin planchet stock. This is not that uncommon for the era. See if you can get some photos up. Good luck!

[enamel7]

Welcome to the forum!

[Polish Prince]

What about that diagnostic silver sound?

[enamel7]

What about that diagnostic silver sound?

It's not silver unless it looks like it could be. Different thickness will give different sounds. Sound doesn't make it so.

[GrumpyEd]

Acid dipped cents get lighter and sound different, they often were trying to make them dime size to trick vending machines. Look at the surface, if it looks orange peel, then it was acid dipped to use as a dime in vending machines.

They make a clink noise that normal cents don't make.

[jfines69]

Welcome to the LCF... It does sound like a rolled thin planchet to me also but with out pics we just can't be sure... I do hope your are able to get some pics posted!!!