Expert: PAPAJACK - 8/5/2007

Question
I have a penny that is about twiced as thick as it should be and probably three quarters of the correct diameter. No lettering is visible on the obverse and very slight one cent is visible on the reverse. Not very worn, just no detail. The rim is much thicker than it should be and is folded into the face of the coin in one place on each side. What is this?

Answer
Hello,                   

It sounds as if someone has rolled the edges of the coin in a machine.  I have seen this done in the past with silver coins to make rings and jewelry items.
If your one cent coin has an image imparted to it on either side it had to be the proper thickness when it was made at the mint.
You did not say what date the cent is. Pre 1982 cent coins are 95% copper and very soft and malleable. If it is newer than 1982 it is mostly zinc and would not respond as well to this rolling of the edge.
Either way since this defect happened after it left the minting process it has very little value to most collectors.  An Error-Coin -Collector may give you up to a dollar or to for it as a novelty piece, but I do not know where you could sell it.
Since I cannot see the coin this is my best guess. Try bringing it to a coin shop for their opinion. If you can’t find one in the phone book write me again and include the nearest city and your zip code.

Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack