Expert: Dan Moore - 3/26/2008

Question
QUESTION: I came across a 2004 D penny in excellent condition that was not covered in copper.  It is silver in color; not sure if it is steel or silver.  Are there many of these in circulation and what is it's value?  Thanks.

ANSWER: Hi Cathy,

I hope you had a nice holiday.

All pennies since 1983 are made almost entirely of zinc with a thin copper coating.

So you either have an unplated error coin (worth about $3.00) or a coin that has been altered to remove the copper layer (no collector value).

First-hand examination would be required to tell the difference.

Dan


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

QUESTION: Thank you for your response.  I also thought it may be a penny that had been altered but there is no trace what so ever of copper.  I have another much older penny that the copper was removed and upon further inspection there was still copper on the edges and some surface.  Couldn't it also be a dime planchet?  If I take it to a coin collector store will they be able to verify?

Answer
Hi Cathy,

Most likely it's the zinc blank, that never got its outer copper layer -- the unplated error.

It could be struck on a dime planchet, but those are made from a sandwich of copper/nickel surounding an inner copper core, so you would see a copper stripe along the outside edge.

You can tell the difference by weight -- an unfinished planchet error should weigh just under 2.5 grams, whereas a dime planchet should weigh 2.27 grams.

You could also take to a coin dealer or jeweler to have it weighed and/or examined.

I hope this helps,

Dan