Roll find: 1943 Penny with copper coat

I found a 1943 penny today and I was curious because it was copper
looking. Knowing that steel pennys were made in 1943, I tried a magnet
with it and sure enough it is steel. My question is was a copper caot
used by the mint I can't find anything in the red book on this so I'm
guessing not. Why would someone do this?

Steve

Steve wrote:
I found a 1943 penny today and I was curious because it was copper
looking. Knowing that steel pennys were made in 1943, I tried a
magnet with it and sure enough it is steel. My question is was a
copper caot used by the mint I can't find anything in the red book on
this so I'm guessing not. Why would someone do this?

To dupe someone not as clever as yourself. There were news stories a
while back about copper 1943 cents. Yes, there are a few real ones, and
they're worth a lot of money -- and that inspired some feebleminds to
copperplate regular steel 1943 cents and try to pass them off. As you've
noted, the simple magnet test is sufficient to determine that these are
bogus, and worth no more than face value.

--
Bob

"Steve" wrote in message
oups.com...
I found a 1943 penny today and I was curious because it was copper
looking. Knowing that steel pennys were made in 1943, I tried a magnet
with it and sure enough it is steel. My question is was a copper caot
used by the mint I can't find anything in the red book on this so I'm
guessing not. Why would someone do this?

Steve


I did it many moons ago as a fresh-faced lad of 14, once I looked old enough
that the guy at the local old-time drugstore let me buy some copper sulphate
(my Gilbert chemistry set didn't have enough left to complete the job). I
just wanted to see if it could be done. I found that it could, although not
as permanent a job as plating.

James

"James Higby" heezerbumfrool[at]hotmail[dot]com wrote in message
...

"Steve" wrote in message
oups.com...
I found a 1943 penny today and I was curious because it was copper
looking. Knowing that steel pennys were made in 1943, I tried a magnet
with it and sure enough it is steel. My question is was a copper caot
used by the mint I can't find anything in the red book on this so I'm
guessing not. Why would someone do this?

Steve


I did it many moons ago as a fresh-faced lad of 14, once I looked old
enough
that the guy at the local old-time drugstore let me buy some copper
sulphate
(my Gilbert chemistry set didn't have enough left to complete the job). I
just wanted to see if it could be done. I found that it could, although
not
as permanent a job as plating.

James

I just used copper cents in a jar with HCL. Attached the electrodes, can't
even remember exactly how, it was trial an error, to a battery and poof!
Instant copper plating. I did not plate any 1943 cents, but I copper plated
everything else metal I could fit in the jar. Loads of fun a 10 YO.

Jonathan_ATC

Steve wrote:

I found a 1943 penny today and I was curious because it was copper
looking. Knowing that steel pennys were made in 1943, I tried a magnet
with it and sure enough it is steel. My question is was a copper caot
used by the mint I can't find anything in the red book on this so I'm
guessing not. Why would someone do this?

Steve

Congratulations!! I've found several steel cents, but never one of the
attempted 'copper '43' fabrications.

Alan
'Kudos'