1973 penny that looks copper clad ???

[Sterling Silver]

Can anyone shed any light on this for me? It is magnetic so I don't know what to think. It weighs 3.1 grams.

[henrysmedford]

What you said it magnetic . Photo please also see http://books.google.com/books?id=RzWG4iHWBvsC&pg=PA47&lpg=PA47&dq=magnetic+cent+1973&source=bl&ots=3u6CD12eT3&sig=emyEB8P_RK6z0B-KAZLRqY3fWu8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=mrb0UL_uHYfriQKlroHADg&ved=0CFkQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=magnetic%20cent%201973&f=false

[Sterling Silver]

Thanks for the link Henry, How many pretty pennies do you think its worth?

[henrysmedford]

I wrote Mike Diamond who is an error expert --

Good day- Could this be real 1973 penny that looks copper clad ??? and he said that it is magnetic . Could it be real.

Thanks Joe

And got back--

I presume you mean copper-clad steel. Anything's possible. But the only known copper-clad steel cents are from 1974.

Mike

And just wrote--

He added photos see ucp.php?i=pm&folder=inbox if this is real it would be the only one . What should he do next with it.

Thanks Joe henry

And I will post when I hear back.

[henrysmedford]

Can you see the vdb on Lincoln's shoulder. Also see -- http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Alternative_Materials_for_One_Cent_Coinage

[henrysmedford]

I wrote Mike Diamond who is an error expert --

Good day- Could this be real 1973 penny that looks copper clad ??? and he said that it is magnetic . Could it be real.

Thanks Joe

And got back--

I presume you mean copper-clad steel. Anything's possible. But the only known copper-clad steel cents are from 1974.

Mike

And just wrote--

He added photos see http://www.realcent.org/ucp.php?i=pm&folder=inbox if this is real it would be the only one . What should he do next with it.

Thanks Joe henry

And I will post when I hear back.

And--
Its appearance is intriguing. If the magnetic attraction is weak, then its almost certainly a fake. If it slams into a magnet, then the coin should be submitted to a top-tier grading service for authentication.

M

FYI--

Senior Editor - Mike Diamond

Mike Diamond has been collecting, researching, and writing about error coins since 1997. He currently writes the thrice-monthly column "Collector's Clearinghouse" for the national coin weekly Coin World. He usually has at least one article in every issue of Errorscope, the bi-monthly magazine of CONECA, the Combined Organizations of Numismatic Error Collectors of America.

Mike served as President of CONECA for two full terms and was a board member for several cycles previous to his election as President. He is one of two error examiners for the club.

Mike has discovered, defined, or refined the understanding of countless error types of the years, including design ablation errors, stutter strikes, invisible strikes, ejection impact doubling, stiff collar errors, "greasy ghosts", atypical chain strikes, external chain strikes, rim-restricted design duplication, die subsidence errors, and surface film effects.

Mike was instrumental in developing MADdieclashes.com, a site dedicated to the world of unusual die clashes and also is a co-author on Traildies.com.

[fasteddy]

oooohhhhh aaaahhhhhh, looking forward to finding out what this little gem may be.

[Sterling Silver]

Henry, yes it slams into the magnet.

[shinnosuke]

Henry, yes it slams into the magnet.

The plot thickens...

[rsk1963]

nice find!

[Sterling Silver]

There is no VDB (that I can tell) using my loop. Do you think it is worth the time and money to have it graded?

[henrysmedford]

There is no VDB (that I can tell) using my loop. Do you think it is worth the time and money to have it graded?

Yes if a 1983 copper cent is worth 15k http://www.numismaticnews.net/article/book-spurs-rare-cent-find and a 1974 aluminium cent is said to be worth 100-500K http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_aluminium_cent it would get it graded.

[henrysmedford]

From--http://uspatterns.com/p2084.html

It is unclear whether any of these latter pieces still exist. The Secret Service has said that it will confiscate any of these pieces should they turn up in the market place.

And from-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_aluminium_cent

In late 1973, the price of copper on world markets rose to a point where the metallic value of the cent was almost equal to its face value.[1][2][3] The U.S. Mint, which produces billions of cents annually, was faced with a potentially catastrophic operating deficit, due to issues of seigniorage. As a result, the Mint tested alternate metals, including aluminium and bronze-clad steel.

and this--http://www.coppercoins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5555&sid=5b17df055ab2431cb5c77fc9d29bb68c

[fasteddy]

I toss all my Cu sorted rejects in a coffee can....they are mostly 1973 through 1975 coin....I need to spread them out and run a magnet over them.....hmmmmm.

[eboyfudd]

I recently found a 1974 quarter whose sound caught my attention while sorting. It has the normal copper-clad rim appearance, but it "rings" like silver when dropped on the table. Taking it somewhere for further analysis is on my To-Do list.

[Sterling Silver]

They need a "Like" button here. I "like" every post. Thanks everyone.

[shinnosuke]

So how did this story end?

[Sterling Silver]

Nothing to update, but I will post when there is.

[Sterling Silver]

PCGS is sending it back today. They graded it "Questionable Authenticity."

[shinnosuke]

PCGS is sending it back today. They graded it "Questionable Authenticity."

I hate it when that happens...

[scyther]

PCGS is sending it back today. They graded it "Questionable Authenticity."

I hate it when that happens...

Do they ever grade it "fake", or is questionable the worst it gets? Is there a possibility it could be real?

[Sterling Silver]

Yes, there are designations lower than Questionable...Counterfeit is the bottom if memory serves. I may send it to ANACS or NGC, I've read they are more likely to take a stand on a coin. I am put off by PCGS- I paid these guys good money because they claim to be experts. Yet they cant tell me if a 1973 U.S. Penny is real or not??? The fact that it's authenticity was questionable was THE reason I sent it to them in the first place...

[Numis Pam]

Yes, there are designations lower than Questionable...Counterfeit is the bottom if memory serves. I may send it to ANACS or NGC, I've read they are more likely to take a stand on a coin. I am put off by PCGS- I paid these guys good money because they claim to be experts. Yet they cant tell me if a 1973 U.S. Penny is real or not??? The fact that it's authenticity was questionable was THE reason I sent it to them in the first place...

+1 That would be very disappointing to me as well.

[avidbrandy]

Posting here so I remember to look at this later. This looks interesting.