Odd 1968D cent found (error? unique?)

[wagsthadog]

Hi all-

I'm no stranger to coins, and I've seen my fair share of weird stuff, but I would appreciate any insight as to what this may be:

It's a 1968D cent, weighs 3.1g, but is uniformly grey in color! Now, before you say "electroplated," I've performed a scratch on the edges and the metal underneath is this same grey color, albeit shiny. It's not misshapen or a wrong planchet, it actually is a very nice cent. Why is it this weird metal???? Offers!!

wags

centfront.jpg (25.43 KiB) Viewed 854 times

centback.jpg (26.68 KiB) Viewed 854 times

[silverflake]

I was born in 1968 and am quickly becoming uniformly grey also. What's wrong with that?

Sorry couldn't resist.

As to your question, I can't offer any insight. Good luck. Good find!

[creshka46]

I found a 1982 quarter once that was grey through and through, but it was light. I believe someone pured zinc into a mold in that case, but if this one is the correct weight, I'm not sure what it could be.

[TheJonasCollegeFund]

The only thing I can think of is a wrong planchant used. I wonder if the mint had produced coins for another country that year?

[henrysmedford]

I asked Mike Diamond who is an error expert he writes for Coin World and was past president of Coneca and--

Good day-
What you thoughts on this coin viewtopic.php?f=7&t=17830 .


Thanks Joe Henry

And

It's probably plated. The scratch probably didn't go deep enough to expose the underlying copper. It could also be a struck counterfeit, but I doubt it.

It's highly unlikely that a normal diameter, normal weight cent would represent a foreign planchet.

Mike

[Numis Pam]

I have actually come across a couple of these in my penny searches too, but not sure if the were the same date or not. Everything is all packed up at another location right now so I do not have access to check and see what the dates are of mine. It will be a while before I can do it, but soon as I can, I will check the dates of the two simular that I have found. I did wonder too just what the heck was going on with them!

[slickeast]

Put it in a Ryedale as the reference coin and see if it works like a copper.

[bman]

my guess is that it was exposed to some kind of chemical/cleaner or something like that.

[everything]

I Love the relief of the 68 pennies, really sticks out.

[wagsthadog]

Hi all-

Thanks for all responses. I'm thinking it's plated too, but if so, it's incredibly well done, and doesnt have a shiny, cheap look- it has a dull, deep finish. I'm thinking that such heavy plating would at least add a few tenths of a gram to the weight, but it's right at 3.1g.

ARGH this coin is going to drive me nuts for the rest of my life now!! If anyone has any more thoughts please chime in.

wags

[henrysmedford]

[penny pretty]

I Love the relief of the 68 pennies, really sticks out.

I had a post awhile back about 68s. I find a lot that look perfect. more so than other than other pre-70 lincolns.

[Mossy]

Someone rubbed mercury on it?

[penny pretty]

I Love the relief of the 68 pennies, really sticks out.

I had a post awhile back about 68s. I find a lot that look perfect. more so than other than other pre-70 lincolns.

I found this last week, It is an S mint... LOve da 68!