About 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
Question I have found a 1990 D penny that is very odd. It appears to be of a silver metal and weighs less than a normal copper penny. It appears to have been copper-coated, but is worn so the underlying metal shows through. I tested it with a magnet and it is not magnetic. The edges are much thicker than normal, sticking up beyond the plane of the coin by a good bit. This thicker edge is what caught my attention because its width and silver color caused me to grab the penny, thinking it was a nickel, when counting change from my purse for a purchase. The edges are also not straight, but are bowed outward. It seems to weigh the same as a normal penny, but I don't have a means to weigh anything that light. If you want to see a pic, I can take a pic and send it to you - I think the macro on my camera would do OK. I have looked on the Web and have not found any info about a 1990 fake penny. I would like to know what you think. Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.
Answer Sally,
Sorry, but your coin has just been altered by somebody, after it left the Mint -- it was not made that way.
Since 1983, all pennies are made from a solid zinc core, coated with a thin layer of copper. It doesn't take much screwing around with a coin to get the zinc core to become exposed.
I have seen other coins like what you describe -- often this is done to dimes.
People with too much time on their hands do some really weird things to coins sometimes.
Considered an altered coin, it has no collector value.
