✅ SOLVED What is this penny and what is it worth?

[smokeythecat]

1972-P Lincoln pulled out of a mint bag in the spring. But the PLANCHET is wrong. Seems to be made of brass. It's uncirculated. It is being tested and slabbed, so I should know I hope what it is on Saturday. Assuming it's a big mint mistake, IE a foreign planchet, what country do you think and how about a value?

 

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[Charlie P. (NY)]

Not a penny. It is a U.S. cent (they all say so - England mints pennys). The U.S. mint does not use brass planchets so that could not be.

 

[NHBandit]

I have searched many thousands of PENNIES and now & then will come across one that is off color similar to what you're showing. I suspect it's due to some sort of chemical reaction or a form of toning and adds no value. They come in rolls like these.. You know, the ones marked PENNIES...​ lol

 

[diverrick]

O.K. here is the definition. "Definition: A planchet is a prepared disc-shaped metal blank onto which the devices of a coin image are struck or pressed. The metal disc is called a blank until the time it passes through the upsetting machine which causes the rim to be raised. Once it has a rim, the disc is called a planchet."

So what exactly is wrong with the planchet of this coin? color? or something else? Maybe the borders are not uniform all the way around, or off center??

 

[doublet2a]

I agree, I have seen cents that look like brass but they are not. To bad it's not a double die obverse.
Be worth around $700.00.

Tim

 

[NHBandit]

O.K. here is the definition. "Definition: A planchet is a prepared disc-shaped metal blank onto which the devices of a coin image are struck or pressed. The metal disc is called a blank until the time it passes through the upsetting machine which causes the rim to be raised. Once it has a rim, the disc is called a planchet."

So what exactly is wrong with the planchet of this coin? color? or something else? Maybe the borders are not uniform all the way around, or off center??

He says he's having it tested and believes it to be made of Brass so it's pretty clear he's questioning that it might have been struck on the wrong type of metal due to the color. It's my opinion he's wasted whatever money it cost to have it tested & slabbed but what do I know...

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

From the US Mint website.....

Lincoln Penny
(One-Cent Coin)
Other Circulating Coins:
Nickel | Dime | Quarter | Half Dollar | Native American $1 | Presidential $1

Current Designs
Obverse (heads): Show the familiar Victor David Brenner likeness of President Lincoln featured since 1909. Inscriptions are IN GOD WE TRUST, LIBERTY, and the year.

Reverse (tails): Was first issued in 2010 and is emblematic of Lincoln’s preservation of the United States as a single and united country. It features a union shield and scroll with the inscription ONE CENT. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is inscribed across the top.
History
The image on the first penny was of a lady with flowing hair symbolizing liberty. The coin was larger and made of pure copper, while today’s smaller coin is made of copper and zinc. It was one of the first coins made by the United States Mint after it was created in 1792.

In 1857, Congress authorized the United States Mint to strike the penny with 88% copper and 12% nickel. The new coins featured a flying eagle on the obverse and a wreath on the reverse. The “Indian Head” design appeared from 1859-1909.

From 1909 to 1958, the Lincoln "wheat" penny obverse was paired with a reverse that featured two sheaves of wheat flanking the inscriptions ONE CENT and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. From 1959 to 2008, the reverse featured an image of the Lincoln Memorial designed by Frank Gasparro commemorating the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth.

In 2009, the United States Mint issued four different pennies throughout the year in recognition of the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth and centennial of the first year of the Lincoln cent. The themes on the reverses represent the four major aspects of Lincoln’s life:

http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/circulatingCoins/?action=circPenny

 

[l.cutler]

All 1972 US cents are brass. The composition of the cent from 1962 to 1982 was 95%copper, 5% zinc, this is brass.

 

[smokeythecat]

I forgot to put in the rest of the equation. Sorry. It was late last night when I put it up. The coin is about 20% lighter in weight than any of the other 72's in the bag, ie it is way underweight. We did find numerous 72 DDO's in the bag.

 

[masterjedi]

I hope for you it is a valuable error. I have bought and sold thousand of US cents over the years and have seen many that are a golden/brass in color. Most of them came out of old coin books with acetate sleeves. The plastic discolored the coins original color. The weight though is a different thing. Good luck!

 

[smokeythecat]

I got it back today from PCGS. Here's what they said - "Mint Error- 1972 MS65 Red, on 10% rolled thin Planchet"

Makes me happy and mystery solved!

 

[smokeythecat]

Surely not a huge dollar find, but what the heck!

 

[pong12211]

Cool nice you were able to find out what it was.

 

[bradyboy]

can we see the report?
Brady

 

[smokeythecat]

I think I hear a doubting Thomas... Of course it's encased in plastic now.

 

[BC1969]

Glad I saved those weird 72's I've come across...worth the expense of slabbing ?

Mike

 

[smokeythecat]

Slabbing was $70. A little higher than usual. I'm not a dealer so have to go through a dealer to get it done, and yes, worth it.

 

[BC1969]

I'd wondered why the ones I have look like brass, at least I now know why..thanks for posting this smokey.

Mike

 

[smokeythecat]

I went through over 15,000 1972's. Wish I could find some more bags to go through. If you get a bag with doubles in it you tend to get a bunch. I have 15 out being graded right now. They'll be about $50 each, but I'm giving most of them to my children. Even found a type 3 in a box of pennies on Friday. Found a type 2 and a type 4 in change also in the last 6 months.

 

[smokeythecat]

One thing I would do, however. If you look for what we found, get one of those little pocket scales and weigh the oddballs. That's how we figured this one was unusual, besides the color, color can be misleading. We first thought it was struck on a Philippines 5 centavos blank, but that was not the case.