✅ SOLVED 1961 Cent

[need2dream]

I am a newbie at coin collecting. My 10 year old son has become fascinated with it and I am asking this for him. This lincoln cent is silver/ gold in color. Obviously rusting and sticks to a magnet. It was retrieved from our local credit union. My son would sincerely appreciate any suggestions.

Thank you in advance

 

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[taz42o]

From jewellery probably it has a steel ring around it.

 

[HuntinDog]

What Taz said...

 

[need2dream]

Thank you so much! I tried to explain that to him however I believe he was enthralled with believing it was a new find.

 

[DCMatt]

To turn the penny silver...

1. Fill the small 50 mL beaker with 3/4 full tap water. This is your rinsing beaker. Set aside.
2. Dissolve 30 grams of Zinc Sulfate in 100 mL of water in the 250 mL beaker. A little heat from setting on the hot plate will hasten this dissolve.
3. Place mossy zinc pieces in the beaker with the zinc sulfate solution, enough pieces to almost cover beaker bottom.
4. Using tweezers, place two or three cleaned up pennies in step three beaker making sure pennies touch the mossy zinc pieces and are not touching each other.
5. Bring solution to low boil for about 10 minutes. Your pennies will slowly turn a silver color.
6. Using tweezers, carefully remove the pennies from the solution, rinse and cool them in small wash beaker then dry them on a paper towel.
7. Voila! You now have a dandy silver colored penny.

To turn the penny gold...

1. Place the silver penny on a hot plate heated to about 570°F (300°C). Watch as the heat diffuses the zinc with the copper to form a brass alloy. This will appear as golden in color.
2. Once the penny is a brassy/golden color, use tweezers to pick up the penny and transfer it into the wash beaker to rinse and cool.
3. Once cooled, you have a nice gold colored penny!

 

[taz42o]

Your welcome. If you search for, turning Penny's gold, you will see how it's done without real gold.

 

[taz42o]

I see Matt already posted the method I was referring to.

 

[need2dream]

Thank you all so much for helping us understand what happened to the cent!!!

Now he wants to do it lol

 

[DCMatt]

Thank you all so much for helping us understand what happened to the cent!!!

Now he wants to do it lol

Good for him!

You can also see it done on Youtube... But that's not NEARLY as fun...

DCMatt

 

[need2dream]

Coins have become his favorite past time
He has searched YouTube all evening

 

[jewelerguy]

if it wasn't encased in a steel ring for jewelry use, it might be a magic trick coin for use with a magnet

 

[psgen]

There is a great book that I highly recommend as you and your son delve more into this fascinating hobby. It is very handy, especially if you are searching bank or rolled coins. It's called "Striking it rich with pocket change." by Ken Potter. It will explain and give tips on where and what to look for in common everyday pocket change. You'd be surprised what's out there and most people haven't a clue. Costs about $20. I consider it a must have for coin collectors.

 

[need2dream]

I will definitely get that for him. What a wonderful suggestion!!! Yes, it has become almost a game to him to see how many bank tellers or managers he can become friends with so that they give him the "special" coins.

 

[need2dream]

My son called me from school today and said he now NEEDS a metal detector. Turns out his school is sitting on a plantation that until recently when the small school was built the acreage has been undeveloped. Here we go!!