Error Plating | 1974 aluminum penny

[Guest]

Hi everyone I have had to mention that somehow I have a 1974 penny that is grey . It looks similiar to the few 44 steel penny . I also have a 94 penny that is grey. I understand that in later year the material went from copper to zinc, but when is the cutoff . I'm pretty sure its aluminum . This penny has been in my grandfather collection for a few decades. Any help is apreciated .

[GrumpyEd]

Check the weight, it's more likely a plated 1974 than one of the rare aluminum ones. If it weighs normal it was plated.

It's 1943 that was zinc plated steel.

They started making cents on copper plated zinc in mid 1982 to present.

[simonm]

Te 1974 is most likely plated, and the 1994 is most likely chemically unplated for a science project. Pictures will help us out, though.