Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Metal Flows

Do you have a cent and want to know its value? 

Is it damage or an error?

Don't mean to be the bearer of bad news but most of the time it is damaged. This is hard for most to believe since metal coins seems so unbending.

When people think of metals they imagine molten liquids poured and shaped only when they glow red hot. While that does happen it is easier to just to smash the metal very hard. It is more complicated making the metal sheets for coinage but once the sheets are formed it is just hammer, die, and smash..

Speaking about pre-1982 U.S. cents I can go into extreme detail about strength, strain, and stress or the different copper alloys but I spent four years studying that and I will not force anyone else to learn it. Let me just say that the strength needed to bend 95% copper (gilding copper) is not that extreme. Cartridge brass is 70% copper and 30% zinc and twice as strong but that would make coining very difficult.

Knowing how strong the copper in a wheat cent lets you know what metal you need to use to manipulate/bend it. Which turns out to be most other metals that are not gold and silver. For instance your keys which jingle in your pocket with your change can get sat on can move the thinnest details on a cent while leaving no other marks.

Check out this 194? cent...


That 0 got gouged out.

The right side also is dented to give a it a larger flat-thicker edge.
 
The back is quite normal.
That slight damage on the 0 in 1940 leaves many to think it is an error since the rest of coin is normal. Knowing how metal flows and how coins are pressed will instantly tell you this was after mint damage.  The original shape is clear, it just got mushed. The design elements are not missing instead the have been moved. "Moved" is a big clue. If you see a suspected error coin and imagine you can move the design element then it is probably damaged. That is how many fakers turn a 1948 or 1945 copper cent into a 1943 copper cent.

This coin looks to have got smashed on the right side and then snagged a bit on the 0. How? Don't know that is a story that may never be known.

Type/Country: 1 Cent/United States
Year: 1940
Mintage: 586,810,000
Metal: 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc
Value: $0.05 in AG-3

Search Google Books for Copper and copper alloys By Joseph R. Davis to learn more about the fascinating world of copper.

Do you have a penny and want to know how much it's worth? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

28 dollars worth, for Comments/Questions click here.:

Anonymous said...

Hello. I have a 1995 $5 bill F72524736 D. It has about 1/2 inch of another bill's back printed over its left front. Is this worth anything? Ha, other than $5! Thanks!

Man said...

1995 $5 bill F72524736 D. It has about 1/2 inch of another bill's back printed over its left front

Partial Offset Transfer error about $25.00.

natieeee said...

I found this 1992 penny in a roll of pennies but its nothing like any penny from that year or any penny i have seen before please take a look and tell me what you think about it and the possible value it could bring.
First start by looking to the right of the "Y" in LIBERTY and you will see the first and the biggest die chip along with several more just a bit lower to the southeast of it all together there are 6 die chips. Next if you look at the back of Lincoln under the collar you will see that his coat and collar do not come together. If you follow up to the back of his head and look at his hair starting from the neck and go all the way around to the curl tip of his hair on his forehead that its not complete as some ares are missing compared to a normal strike. Also his beard if you will see at the bottom of its missing the rounded look and appears more straight and thinner.The right side of his bow tie is faintly there as is the rest of his jacket below it.All in all the whole head is thinner.
http://s849.photobucket.com/albums/ab60/dingdum/

Man said...

1992 penny in a roll of pennies but its nothing like any penny from that year or any penny i have seen before...

First great pictures.

Second this is normal and has no extra value.

Let me explain.
The die chips, the weak design, and the odd background are signs of a late stage die.
The die being used to press the coin has a limited numbers of uses. They become broken and are re-polished down until the are deemed too old and worn. At that point a new one gets put in and the old one is destroyed.

Unless the die chips turn into a major die break they have no extra value. Very common among Lincoln cents.

stephaniex3 said...

So I work as a cashier at cvs and whenever I spot a wheat penny I always put it aside and buy them at the end of the night. Tonight I found one that is much darker then a regular wheat penny and is in good condition. It is from 1944 but there is no marking as to where it was minted. And as I mentioned previously it is in good condition and it doesn't appear that it was worn off. Have I stumbled upon a rare coin? And if not what's it worth anyway?

Man said...

one that is much darker then a regular wheat penny and is in good condition. It is from 1944 but there is no marking as to where it was minted.

Color variety is normal about $0.10 if you think it is something else try weighing it.

stephaniex3 said...

So it not having a marking for where it was minted (ex.D or S) is normal?

Man said...

So it not having a marking for where it was minted (ex.D or S) is normal?

Yes that means it is from Philadelphia.
Cents never had a P mintmark.

Anonymous said...

Just wondering................
How many wheat cents do you have exactly??????

Man said...

How many wheat cents do you have exactly?

Don't know exactly but not enough to fill a small shoebox, maybe like $2.00 in face value.

Anonymous said...

I have some bills and would like to know their value

$10 II17027925 VF

$5 IK22002506 fine

thanks alot

Anonymous said...

I have a penny and would like to know its value

1964 D and the 4 and "L" in liberty are touching the rim
does this add any more value?

thanks alot

Man said...

$10 II17027925 VF

$5 IK22002506 fine


What is the final serial number letter? Or was it a star?

Man said...

penny and would like to know its value

1964 D and the 4 and "L" in liberty are touching the rim


Die break errors, no extra value.

Anonymous said...

It is A for both bills

Anonymous said...

it looks like A penny at the top it has treasury botton united states mint.it has the coat of arms.on the back it says uncirculated in middle it has big D. botton it says denver. can you tell me what it is and if its worth anything.have a us.1996 penny with no I in Liberty thank you.

Man said...

$10 II17027925A VF just $10.00

$5 IK22002506A fine just $5.00

Man said...

A penny at the top it has treasury botton united states mint.it has the coat of arms.on the back it says uncirculated in middle it has big D. botton it says denver. can you tell me what it is

This is a token made by the US mint and placed in Uncirculated coin sets to balance the packaging.
They are very common and average about $1.00.

Man said...

Ooops almost forgot...

1996 penny with no I in Liberty
Struck Through Grease error, no extra value.

Anonymous said...

I have amorgan dollar and would liki two know its value

1885 O condition EF


thanks alot

Man said...

morgan dollar and would liki two know its value

1885 O condition EF


About $40.00

zachariah said...

I have a 1940 wheat cent and would like to know the value and if it is an error or pmd how do I post a picture for you?

zachariah said...

I posted the coin pic as my profile pic

Man said...

1940 wheat cent and would like to know the value and if it is an error or pmd

PMD, if this was a struck through grease error it would not change the shape but the tail in 9 is out of shape.

Sorry, but great picture.

Cynthia Reed said...

Hi, can you tell me where I can sell my wheat cent coins and the nearest place. I live in Bennettsville SC, 29512


Thank you very much,
reed.cynthia39@yahoo.com

Man said...

can you tell me where I can sell my wheat cent coins and the nearest place. I live in Bennettsville SC, 29512

Not really, for these types eBay is your best bet.

You can look here...
http://www.pcgs.com/dealers/

But they are more high end.

Anonymous said...

1940 penny with s under 1940
1958 nickel with D on back

Man said...

1940 penny with s under 1940 about $0.15
1958 nickel with D on back about $0.15