1983 parking lot penny 2.8 Grams

[Guest]

My grandson and I were trying out his new scale by looking at 1983 coins to see if we could find a copper one. After weighing many pennies and about 20 1983 ones that weighed the expected 2.5 grams, we found one that weighed 2.8 grams. I call it my parking lot penny, because I always pick them up and this one had the reverse scratched like most of the ones I picked up.
I have searched for hours on the internet for why it could weigh 2.8 grams. The thicker zinc stock is the best answer I could find. Is this common?



After taking the pictures I noticed that the front is also offset!

It takes a fairly hard scratch to show the zinc, see the above 2015 cent.

[enamel7]

Welcome to the forum! Yes it is common and within mint specifications.

[jfines69]

Welcome to the LCF... Most likely thick planchet stock as you suspect... Are you able to post a picture of it???

[willbrooks]

Maybe it is a 1983 struck on thin-rolled copper-alloy stock.

Don't mind me, I was up late celebrating Festivus. The feats of strength must have taken it out of me. Anyway, welcome to the forum. What the others have said is the most likely scenario I believe.

[Hubert]

Uploaded pictures of front and back, notice offset.

[kloccwork419]

Its wonder why no zinc is showing beat up like that....

[willbrooks]

Uploaded pictures of front and back, notice offset.

Yes, it was struck by slightly misaligned dies. Pretty common occurrence. Yes, that reverse spent some time in a parking lot. A reverse only a mother could love.

[jfines69]

Its wonder why no zinc is showing beat up like that....

That is what I was thinking also... Unless the light is fading it out???

[jfines69]

Uploaded pictures of front and back, notice offset.

Those are fairly good pics... Like Will said it is a minor misaligned strike... The rev is interesting??? I can not tell if any zinc is showing thru??? The light is throwing me off!!! Are you able to see any zinc???