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1983 P Lincoln Cent. Most Extreme Plating Blisters?

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Petespockets55's Avatar
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 Posted 02/23/2025  10:57 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add Petespockets55 to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Most Extreme Plating blisters I've come across. 1983 P Lincoln Cent.
They are even on the raised design elements.
(I really like this one a an extreme example.)
On the reverse, there seems to be a "swath" that goes south from "STATES OF", that is even more severe than in the fields next to it.

What are your thoughts regarding whether this would be considered a copper plating error, since something happened to the planchet before plating which hindered the adhesion of the copper to the zinc.

Hope you enjoy this one.






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Errers and Varietys's Avatar
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 Posted 02/23/2025  11:18 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Errers and Varietys to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Wow, that's a really ugly looking cent. I've seen plating blisters, but not to this extent.
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Marve65's Avatar
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 Posted 02/24/2025  12:34 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Marve65 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
That's great - never saw one that bad before!
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Hondo Boguss's Avatar
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 Posted 02/24/2025  12:40 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Hondo Boguss to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Encase that thing in plexiglass before it turns to dust!
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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nickelsearcher's Avatar
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 Posted 02/24/2025  06:01 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add nickelsearcher to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
That is actually a really cool looking cent.
Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art
Too many hobbies .... too much work .... not enough time.
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Petespockets55's Avatar
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 Posted 02/24/2025  06:59 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Petespockets55 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks guys. Exactly my thoughts. Already in a 2x2.
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ijn1944's Avatar
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 Posted 02/24/2025  07:24 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add ijn1944 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Now that's a stellar example of plating issues. Very cool!
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 Posted 02/24/2025  07:27 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add oddguy to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I think it looks cool as well. Will it continue to rot even in 2x2?
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 Posted 02/24/2025  08:29 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add uruman to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
very nice example
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Tacc's Avatar
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 Posted 02/24/2025  12:04 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Tacc to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Wowser, that's a severe case! I have some '83's with blisters but dayum that's wicked nasty.

"Hey I have a great idea, let's make a new one cent US coin. We'll make the core from zinc, and plate it with a very thin layer of copper. Yeah, Yeah that's it. What a great idea!! We're gonna be famous."
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Petespockets55's Avatar
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 Posted 02/24/2025  7:58 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Petespockets55 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Here's a little game for everyone. How much will the US Treasury be ahead once all the zinc cents turn to dust.
42.5 years of zinc cent production sure adds up.
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Dearborn's Avatar
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Petespockets55's Avatar
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 Posted 02/24/2025  9:36 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Petespockets55 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
wow, that zinc is just aching to burst out.

I could be wrong, but I think this isn't your usual "zinc deterioration" blisters.
All indications are that the OBW roll this came out of was stored properly and wasn't subjected to humidity or moisture. There are no perforations or weakness in the copper plating that I can see. Most of the other coins in the roll had very few, if any, blisters on them.

IMHO, I think these blisters are caused by the copper plating not bonding properly to the zinc substrate because of some type of contamination on the surface of the zinc. Temperature differences may have affected some trapped gasses or caused the two different metals to expand at different rates
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Tacc's Avatar
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 Posted 02/25/2025  1:11 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Tacc to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
However it may have been caused, it does include the copper not bonding to the zinc.
Just to add another theory to the cause of the blisters...Someone could have cooked this
Zincoln, at a "certain temperature", and caused the plating to begin to separate from the zinc in this manner,
perhaps without causing any additional, visual heat damage. Just the right amount of heat, for just the right amount of time.
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Brandmeister's Avatar
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 Posted 02/25/2025  1:24 pm  Show Profile   Check Brandmeister's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add Brandmeister to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Tacc, I was actually wondering if this would result from putting a zinc cent in the microwave.

Note: DO NOT PUT A CENT IN YOUR MICROWAVE.

I know most of you folks are responsible adults, but it's the Internet, and I don't want someone ruining their microwave or burning their hand on screamingly hot metal.

I think what Pete said is more likely to be correct. The copper foil isn't actually bonded to the zinc core. Maybe it was dirty or splattered with something. Alternately, maybe the zinc was rusted or impure, and this is a slow gas reaction bubbling up the plating.
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