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Coin and Paper Money Collecting/2009 lincoln formative yrs (lp-2)

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Expert: - 10/22/2009


Question
in the four coin cent lens in the 2009 mint proof sets,my lp2 coin is turning silver.  did they sneak-in a circulating zinc coin? several of the sets i bought on the first day of release have coins that look suspecious. what do you think?s

Answer
Hi Richard:

Your coin sounds interesting. It's difficult to determine what you may have without seeing the actual coin or a color photo. While I haven't heard of any 2009 proof cents or sets containing this type of error, it is possible what you may have is a proof cent struck with an incomplete planchet where the copper plating was missed.

The planchets are made outside the mint and inspected prior to shipping by the manufacturer. The blanks are inspected again at the mint prior to use. After striking and packaging, the entire proof set is inspected for a final time prior to shipping. If you proof cent is missing the copper plating, it could be extremely scarce. There are circulation strikes (non-proof) where the blank missed the plating process and were struck. It has been determined that this type of error can be manufactured outside the mint after the coin was struck by chemically removing the plating. This would be difficult to do on the specially prepared proof cents with the contrasting surfaces.

You should have your proof set looked at by a professional coin dealer to authenticate the error.
In my opinion, if legitimate, a proof set with a cent missing the complete plating operation could be worth several hundred dollars to an interested error collector.

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Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.

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Ronald Fern

Expertise

I can answer most all questions relating to US coins, tokens, and currency. I'm not strong on world coins or ancients. Primary field of expertise is errors and varieties. Over 55 years experience in coin collecting. Part time dealer since 1976. Employed by McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for over 34 years as an Industrial Engineer/Technical Specialist before retiring in 2002.

Experience

Worked weekends for "Lonesome" John in the late 1960's to mid 1970's processing error coins, packaging, and preparing orders. Worked with John Devine and Fred Weinberg on several California Error A Rama's in the early 1970's. Served as display judge at annual Error-A-Rama coin shows. Opened and operated mail order coin business DBA "CAL ERRORS" in 1976. Contributer to Alan Herbert's "Official Price Guide To Mint Errors" and Fivaz/Stanton "Cherrypickers' Guide". Worked Saturdays at Huntington Beach Coin Exchange 1980-1999. Had table and sold coins at a number of coin and gun shows in So CA, AZ and NV. Sell coins, tokens and currency currently at my space in the Pomona Antique Center. Past "Errorscope" Editor. Presently CONECA Examiner.

Organizations
ANA, CONECA, CWTS, NLG

Publications
Errorscope, Numismatic News, Civil War Token Journal, Error and Variety News

Education/Credentials
AA Degree LBCC pre Engineering, 1964 BS Degree CSULB Ind Technology, 1968

Awards and Honors
1st Place EAR Trophy for Civil War Token Errors, NLG Author of Year Award for best monthly coin column "Error News and Views" in small Numismatic paper, owned and published by Ray Anthony.

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