Expert: Brad Swain - 12/7/2009

Question
I was wondering if i could bother you with a question. Well what i have is this penny, its most likely a Lincoln, you know, within the past 20 or so years, probably 90's by the looks, but the reason i don't know is because there is nothing, and i mean 'nothing' stamped on the penny, its basically just a piece of penny metal, haha. It is obviously a penny by the shape and i got it from change the other week. The reason i say that because some might possibly say, "man, somebody made this". Both sides are just plain smooth, it does have the ridge that goes all the way around it, where it pops up some , the border i guess you can say, but nothing else at all. Curious if this is a coin worth collecting or just another average penny for my sons piggy bank. Thanks and hope to hear back soon. Roy

Answer
Hi Roy, no bother at all. It may be worth about $1-$2 depending on amount of collector demand.
A copper cent made through the first half of 1982 would weigh 3.11 grams while the 1982+ copper clad zinc cents only weigh 2.5 grams.
You might take it by a local coin shop for a first hand opinion: http://find.mapmuse.com/interest/coin_dealers
Brad