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Coin and Paper Money Collecting/1991 penny
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Question
Hi My mother-in-law just passed away and while going through some coins I found a 1991 Lincoln that looks steel colored and under the bust there is a very small VDB inscription can you tell me anything about this penny
Hi Bud,
The VDB is the designer's initials -- Victor David Brenner -- and appears there on all Lincoln cents from 1918 on.
The steel color is caused by one of the following :
1) it has been plated with a steel colored metal -- now a novelty item, it has no collector value.
2) it did not get its thin outer copper coating. All cents since 1983 are almost entirely zinc, with a thin outer layer of copper. This error is worth a couple dollars.
You can tell the difference by weight. A plated coin will be just over 2.5 grams, and a missing copper layer error will weigh just under 2.5 grams.
I hope this helps,
Dan
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Answers by Expert:
Dan Moore
Expertise
My strong familiarity with all U.S. Mint coins, extensive reference library, and close relationships with many other dealers allows me to identify just about any coin made in the USA. I receive regular updates to all the current price guides -- both wholesale & retail -- to provide accurate values. So, with a good description or pictures, I should be able to identify and value any U.S. coin you have.
Experience
I've been a coin dealer since the 1980's and a coin collector since the 1960's. I specialize in U.S. Silver Coins and have an active online website -- The Working Man's Rare Coins -- http://www.workingmancoins.com -- offering information and inventory in U.S. coins.
Organizations I belong to :
American Numismatic Association Member #187770
Michigan State Numismatic Society Member #8255
Florida United Numismatics Member #19710
Monroe Coin Club Treasurer
Lincoln Coin Club Board Member
WINS Member #14
CoinMasters Member #1814
Frequently Asked Questions :
I have created a Frequently Asked Questions page on my website, where you may be able to get an immediate answer to your question. You can find the page here :
http://www.workingmancoins.com/FAQ/index.htm
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