Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 11/4/2008

Question
QUESTION: i have a 1984 penny which is all silver in color is it worth anything. And why is it silver

ANSWER: Hello, Amanda, since 1982, the U.S. cent has been made out of copper plated zinc.  If the copper plating is removed, then the zinc is what's left and it is silver colored.  Or it's possible that the plating never came on in the first place.  Look carefully at your piece and see if you see any remnants of the copper plating at all -- if you do, then you'll know it was once on and then removed.  Try going to www.ebay.com and doing searches for things like penny (or cent) unplated to see if there are any pieces that weren't plated originally for sale and at what price, Jim Lawniczak

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i have checked ebay but can not find any thing. This penny has no sign what so ever of any copper coloring so now where would i go to find anything. I also have a penny that was taken out of a new pack that had never been stamped with anything on it just a perfect smooth penny. where is the best place for me to find my answers.

Answer
The cent that wasn't impressed is a blank planchet.  I just went to www.ebay.com myself and did a search for "blank cent planchet" and 15 items for sale came up.  Here's the link:

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38.l1313&_nkw=blank+cent+planchet&_saca

I tried a search for unplated cent and 4 things came up.  They were selling for high prices but please note, no bids to date.  That could mean that the sellers have high hopes but they are not being realized.  Here's the link there:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1983-Gem-BU-UNPLATED-Lincoln-CENT-Error-coin-GUARANTEED_W0QQ