Could these be 1941 metal Prototype Lincoln Cents?

mmmikey64

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Jun 21, 2015
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I searched some obviously long forgotton wheat rolls and found these two 1941 Lincoln cents that stood out from the rest. How much would white metal 1941 Lincoln cents be worth? Please, any answer would be great; I would love to get them authenticated immediately. white cent 008.JPGwhite cent 009.JPGwhite cent 010.JPGwhite cent 011.JPGwhite cent 008.JPGwhite cent 009.JPGwhite cent 010.JPGwhite cent 011.JPG
 

My advice is that if you truly believe that these cents are made from anything other than a .950 copper alloy, please have them authenticated by a professional with expertise in such matters.

That being said, the lighting and focus on your images is so poor that nothing can even be guessed. There is, however, no record of any 1941 cents being made of anything but .950 copper.

There are likely hundreds of thousands of cents from that era (pre WWII) that were plated with zinc in high school and junior high chemistry classes. Are the coins plated or are they a white metal throughout?
 

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They are white metal all the way throughout. One unforunately has a gouge and it is completely white. Ive heard of these; the U.S. mint began experimenting in the mid 1941 year and there are 1 to three white metal specimens known; there are 1942 specimens and I believe these are in fact 41 prototypes. I could be wrong but I will soon see and kepp you posted on the authentication. Although, there is absolutely no doubt that these are white metal all the way through the coin. Thanks for the response
 

Here is a better picture; they are compared with a .950 copperwhite2 003.JPG
 

They look to be just heavily cleaned coins to me.. IMO .. Good luck to you! Hope their rare..
 

As I posted earlier, if you really believe they are made of anything but a .950 copper alloy, take them to a professional to have them authenticated. No one, no matter how skilled or otherwise qualified, can authenticate coins based on images.
 

Thanks, will do. I will have them looked at
 

Hopefully you can find a coin dealer in town to help you with these coins before you post them. It seems like you find things that aren't really there often. We all want the holy grail, but it just doesn't exist.
 

the U.S. mint began experimenting in the mid 1941 year and there are 1 to three white metal specimens known; there are 1942 specimens and I believe these are in fact 41 prototypes.

How about posting a link to where you read this information before i say (it's late for 7-1), so.... AUGUST FOOLS!
 

How about sawing through them with a jig saw or band saw and post the pics of the inside, then we will know for sure!!?? Just kidding but I have seen many Lincoln Cents that are similar in color to your's and I don't see white. I see very bright Lincoln Cents which are a composition of 95% Copper and 5% Tin and Zinc and it is likely that when the Planchet stock was produced, the metals were not mixed accurately when they were liquid and when rolled into Planchet stock, the Tin and Zinc were more prevalent in the portion that the Planchets were stamped from. However, a similar or same appearance can be achieved by polishing the Cents with Brasso and some other cleaners as well.


Frank
 

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Maybe so Frank, but any mistakes made by the mint have extra value. Maybe try NCG to evaluate them.
 

Maybe so Frank, but any mistakes made by the mint have extra value. Maybe try NCG to evaluate them.

If this is a case of poor mixing of the compositions, then it is not a mistake made at the Mint as the production of the Planchet Stock is contracted out to a private company. If it were a case of Test or Experimental Planchets or struck on wrong Planchets, then yes, it would be a Variety or Mint Error. If the O.P. wishes to pay NGC to evaluate the coins, then that is up to him or her but IMHO, it is a waste of time and money! The O.P. has made numerous Thread posts of supposed Variety or Mint Error Coins not unlike a Conspiracy Theorist and I fear that his or her zeal and imagination in searching for Variety and Mint Error Coins, is going to catch up with him or her in costs and in heart break. I would advise him or her to purchase some books on Variety and Mint Errors and read them, search the internet for everything he or she can find on Variety and Mint Errors and maybe even purchase some true Variety and Mint Errors and study them before continuing on with their quest to find Variety and Mint Error Coins as it will likely save him or her a lot of grief.


Frank
 

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Not wanting to sound like a party pooper but as Frank mentioned, that's exactly what a penny looks like that has been cleaned with brasso or never dull.
 

They look coppery to me. If you want to see a white metal penny check out the 1043 which is steel.
 

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