What causes this?

[faithyourway777]

I picked this 1980 penny up this morning during my morning walk and I'm learning about all this coin stuff as I go. So this penny looks all deformed or something and I was wondering what causes that?

 

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[dfallis1]

Our modern change is poor quality metals. Especially when we started using zinc. I can find a zinc penny from last year in the ground and it looks like it took a acid bath. Three feet away pull out a 1803 Large cent in good shape with decent detail. Your example above is made of copper but looks to have damage from possibly being in the road. Bottom line nothing now days is made like it used to be.

 

[faithyourway777]

Thank you

 

[sawmill man]

Right on about zinc penny's, but yours is not corrosion , looks more like being on the highway or gravel road for a trip or two. Road Rash.

 

[dfallis1]

Right on about zinc penny's, but yours is not corrosion , looks more like being on the highway or gravel road for a trip or two. Road Rash.

Agree. Looks like every other penny I have picked up in a parking lot or road curbs.

 

[Icewing]

Two words.... Road Rash

 

[bradyboy]

agree, road rash - poor guy