Expert: PAPAJACK - 8/1/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have a cent that is completely unfinished on the heads side. To describe it the heads side is silver on color and hollow. It has a rim, and is half the thickness of a normal penny.
I've looked on the web at the pictures of coins and some with blank planchets but they just look like a normal coin that is blank on one side. This penny is different. Do you think it may be worth money?


ANSWER: Hello William,          

It sounds like this coin has been altered by someone after it left the mint.

The modern cent made since 1982 is zinc (a silver/whitish colored metal) with a copper plate on the outside. Someone has removed the surface on one side of your coin.

I have seen a USA dime quite often fitted into the hollowed out side of a cent as a joke coin.

Coins altered after they leave the mint are worthless to collectors.

I hope this information helps.

Good Luck

PapaJack


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

QUESTION: You were right a dime fits into the rim that is left on the penny. People do the strangest things heh. thanks for the answer and how would I keep a dime in the coin? if you know.

Answer
Hello again William,          

These so called 11 cent pieces are fake coins made for magic tricks.
Not to be confused with a dime blank that has a one cent impression on it from the mint.
         
The one you describe is produced after the minting process for tricks. Since the US mint did not produce it there is no collectable value associated with it except as a novelty item.

You can try something like super glue to fit the dime back into the coin.
I am not sure but it was likely press fit into the coin the first time.

Thank You and Good Luck,

PapaJack

P.S.
You can look at this site for interested;
http://www.magicwhiz.com/dime-penny-coin-trick.html
or
http://www.thegag.com/a5331.html