Expert: PAPAJACK - 3/15/2007

Question
Did this penny come chrome plated or is it possibly silver.

Answer
Hello Timothy,     

I see these from time to time. It is likely just a novelty or collectors item. The US Mint did not strike it like this. Perhaps a company produced it from a normal cent for the bicentennial of the USA.

For testing, first check the specifications on the coin. 3.11 grams and 19mm round diameter. If it is anything else and we don’t have a cent blank used here.

If the coin is the correct size and within the weight tolerances of a normal cent there are a few possibilities.

It may be polished after the coin left the mint. With certain polishing mediums a silver look can be achieved. I have even seen cents cleaned in silver cleaners that change their color to silverish hues.

Or it was more probably plated with nickel or chrome. Copper takes plating well but if you magnify the (fillet’s) area where the raised lettering is you will find a build-up of the plating material.

Things like this are worthless to true coin collectors. Most coin shops and all coin Shows Large or small will have people knowledgeable enough to identify this piece for you at no charge.

Please remember to go to the experts site to rate this answer. And check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack