Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 1/22/2008

Question
i just got a good condition silver penny its a 1971 mint D and its a little bit heavier than a regular penny and it sounds different than a regular penny but its the same size as a penny it is not metal cause its not magnetic tell me if its worth anything at all...

Answer
Cory, sorry, I have never heard of any legitimate cent being silver, other than if it had been struck on a dime planchet, but in that case it would be lighter than a regular cent.  The piece could well be metallic even though it is not magnetic -- essentially only iron is magnetic so the normal metals in cents, copper and zinc are not, but neither are the normal metals in nickels, dimes and quarters (copper and nickel).  I suspect that you have a piece that someone has coated with a silver colored coating.  That way it would look silver and also be a bit heavier than a regular penny, but no one could really tell without seeing the piece in person.  Jim Lawniczak