1975 steel penny

[KAREN MORPHEW]

I have come across a penny that is dated 1975 that is steel in color. i have
done some research but i am unable to find any info on this only the ones
from 1974. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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[Draco]

The penny's in that date era are 95% copper and 5% zinc. Only time I
have seen a "steel" cent, other than 1943, has been after it was
treated with either mercury or some other plating. If it is a steel
penny, it would be atractted to a magnet. If it is a plated, it wont.
Simple test to see what it might be.

Good luck.

Draco

Getting even isn't good enough.

[Jerry Dennis]

KAREN MORPHEW wrote:
> I have come across a penny that is dated 1975 that is steel in color. i have
> done some research but i am unable to find any info on this only the ones
> from 1974. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Draco wrote:
> The penny's in that date era are 95% copper and 5% zinc. Only time I
> have seen a "steel" cent, other than 1943, has been after it was
> treated with either mercury or some other plating. If it is a steel
> penny, it would be atractted to a magnet. If it is a plated, it wont.
> Simple test to see what it might be.
>
> Good luck.

It may also be a cent struck on a dime planchet. I'd suggest taking it
to a reliable dealer and having them give you an opinion. In
numismatics, anything is possible.

Jerry

[Barry]

It may have been dipped in Mercury. Be careful with it!
Barry

On Mon, 16 Jan 2006 15:33:13 GMT, "KAREN MORPHEW"
<mnm...@verizon.net> wrote:

>I have come across a penny that is dated 1975 that is steel in color. i have
>done some research but i am unable to find any info on this only the ones
>from 1974. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Note - Remove the X from my e-mail address for direct replies

[Jeff R]

"Barry" <w2...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:utnos1ta3l1t9joek...@4ax.com...

> It may have been dipped in Mercury. Be careful with it!
> Barry
>
> On Mon, 16 Jan 2006 15:33:13 GMT, "KAREN MORPHEW"
> <mnm...@verizon.net> wrote:
>
> >I have come across a penny that is dated 1975 that is steel in color. i
have
> >done some research but i am unable to find any info on this only the ones
> >from 1974. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Don't be too concerned.
Mercury amalgams of this variety (even silver-free) are quite non-toxic and
(dare I say it) inert.

Its only the hysterical anti-mercury nuts who claim otherwise.
Vapours and oxides - thats another story - but a mercury dipped copper coin
isn't a hazard.

--
Jeff R.

[karen]

OK it is not steel does not attach to magnet. I have come across an article
that mentions there were 66 aluminum 1975 pennies made but none are known to
exist. were do i begin to even have this checked out?
"Draco" <JPD...@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote in message
news:1137443622.9...@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

[Draco]

As Jerry Dennis said. Take it to a coin dealer.

Most dealers are very trustworthy and will
give you the straight scoop. If it is one
of the aluminum cents it would be
quite a bit lighter than another cent
of the same year. Take a popsicle
stick and balance it on a pencil.
Take the mystery cent and one
that pre-dates 1982 and see if they
balance to stick.

Good luck and lets us know what
happens.

Draco

Geting even isn't good enough.

[Scott Stevenson]

On Tue, 17 Jan 2006 15:24:00 GMT, "karen" <mnm...@verizon.net> wrote:

>OK it is not steel does not attach to magnet. I have come across an article
>that mentions there were 66 aluminum 1975 pennies made but none are known to
>exist. were do i begin to even have this checked out?

Well, the first thing to do would be to test the weight. A bronze
cent will weigh about 3 grams, an aluminum cent will weigh a lot less.
I think an aluminum cent would weigh something like 1 gram.

take care,
Scott

[aca...@gate.net]

"karen" <mnm...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:k_7zf.12136$6L1.2668@trnddc02...

> OK it is not steel does not attach to magnet. I have come across an
> article that mentions there were 66 aluminum 1975 pennies made but none
> are known to exist. were do i begin to even have this checked out?

One thing to start with is to weigh it if you have a small scale. Then weigh
a copper penny to see if your penny weighs more or less. Metals have
different densities, so the weight for a same volume will be different.

Is the penny dull or shiny like a dime. Mercury pennies that I've seen are
very shiny. Aluminum does not have good luster.

These two things should give some idea.

Anita