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 Dan: I just read "Joe's question" regarding his 1995 steel penny. I too have a 1995 penny, but I believe it is pure zinc as there is no copper color at all. It is extremely lightweight and "Chrome Shiny". I have 3 1944 steel pennies that I compared it to and the steel pennies are considerably heavier than this one. Any thoughts on what it actually is made of or if it has any value other than its face value? I can scan it and send you the scanned image if that would help. Tony
Answer Tony,
I'm sure it is pure zinc -- just missing its outer copper coating -- all pennies made since 1983 are made from solid zinc with a thin outer copper coating. Missing this outer coating happens more often than you might think. The mint gets their penny blanks pre-made from a private company -- the only coin the mint does not make their own blanks for -- so the quality control for these is outside the mint.
Steel is heavier than zinc. Your 1943 steel cents should weight 2.7 grams -- this missing clad layer zinc cent should weigh just slightly under 2.5 grams.
There are plenty of these error coins around at the coin shows -- value at a dollar or two.
