Partially plated zinc pennies?

[Infector101]

So I was searching a bag of dimes tonight and came across not one but two pennies that I think are errors. It appears to me that they are only partially plated zinc pennies. Both are 1999-D and have pretty decent detail. It doesn't look like they copper was worn off or that it's PMD. What are your opinions and what do you think these are worth?

 

[Joe777Cool]

they look pretty cool thats for sure

 

[CRH]

i have one just like that a 1994-d its missing about 85% percent of its clad it could be a mint error or someone could of worn it off or did it on purpose to make $$$$
they look legit though

 

[BuffaloBoy]

it's from a high school chemistry experiment. it was dipped in a solution which ate away at the outer layer.

 

[Infector101]

it's from a high school chemistry experiment. it was dipped in a solution which ate away at the outer layer.

I'm a chem teacher. There is no acid that reacts with copper but not with zinc. Also, you can plate zinc onto copper in a chem lab, but it happen uniformly not starting in the center and working outwards.

 

[Eminem]

I'm a chem teacher. There is no acid that reacts with copper but not with zinc. Also, you can plate zinc onto copper in a chem lab, but it happen uniformly not starting in the center and working outwards.

Do you happen to know Walter white? I heard he's a big time roller

 

[huntsman53]

I'm a chem teacher. There is no acid that reacts with copper but not with zinc. Also, you can plate zinc onto copper in a chem lab, but it happen uniformly not starting in the center and working outwards.

That may be true but the large majority of unplated zinc Cents found in circulation have been subjected to some type of acid bath! At the same time, quite a few unplated zinc Cents which have also been subjected to a acid bath to make them appear as plating Errors from the Mints are sold on eBay everyday. This topic has been discussed by almost every Coin Expert/Professional in books and on websites and is often the topic of discussions on almost every Coin Forum here in the United States.

Did the two 1999-D Lincoln Cents that are missing part of the copper plating, come from a Mint bag of Uncirculated 1999-D Lincoln Memorial Cents? If so, then it is quite possible that they are legit Mint Errors! If they were in Mint bags that were sealed, only opened by the O.P. and then found, then I would say that they are legit Mint Errors!


Frank