Expert: PAPAJACK - 10/18/2008

Question
I recently got this odd penny as change.  the Penny is fully struck on the back and from the reverse looks lika any other penny.  The head side is missing and it isn't copper.  It looks like someone cut a penny in half along the rim and the front half is missing. Any idea how this would happen & is this worht anything (other than 1/2 a penny?) thanks Carol L

Answer
Hello Carol,                

The US Cent is not a laminated coin it is copper plated zinc.
If the copper is removed you see the Whitish-Silverish Zinc metal.

There is no way to plate only one side of the coin with copper. The one you have was indeed altered after it left the mint. It should weigh 2.5 grams, yours will be less.  

I do get a lot of questions about these one sided coins so it seems cutting a coin in two is becoming more common.

I hope this Information helps.

Good Luck