Coin and Paper Money Collecting/1964 nickeled penny

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Expert: - 12/19/2007


Question
Hi,

I just came across a 1964 penny,the penny is not made out of copper, instead is made out of nickel..
 Any value?

Thanks


thanks

Answer
Tino, there's two possibilities that I can think of about this coin.  The most likely possibility is that someone played with the coin and dipped into some solution which caused the outer color to be different (mercury maybe?).  Is the color solid with no copper showing through?  If anything is showing through, then it has been laquered in some way and only worth 1 cent.  However, a much rarer possibility would be that it was struck on a different planchet (metal) such as that was intended for nickel.  One way to check is to weight the cent on a scale that's accurate to 0.01 grams.  A regular cent from that time period should way 3.11 grams.  If it was nickel it should weigh a bit less than that.  If it turns out to be a coin struck on the wrong planchet, it could be worth about $20 or so.

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Bruce Goldstein

Expertise

I specialize in U.S. three-cent nickels, but also close behind them are U.S. two-cent pieces, three-cent silver, and twenty cent pieces. Also, I have a bit of experience in the area of U.S. Early Proofs (19th century). However, I can possibly assist in most questions regarding U.S. Type coins.

Experience

I have read virtually everything I can find in print on the areas of U.S. 2-3-20 cent pieces. I have written articles on three-cent coins and Early Proofs published (or will be published) in Coin World.

Organizations
ANA

Publications
Coin World

Education/Credentials
MS in Mathematical Physics ANA Advanced Grading and Problem Coins seminar

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