Wafer thin penny 1939

[bagerap]

This was in a mixed lot.

29.5 x 1.2 mm

5.2 gr

Scan enhanced to show detail.

At first I thought it had been put in a hydraulic press, but the diameter would be way bigger. And the weight's weird.

I'm thinking maybe play money, any ideas?

Bob

[Coinery]

Looks like a regular penny that's had a long good soak in acid to me!

[Accumulator]

Agreed. I have an identical looking coin... The consensus was acid bath.

[Peter]

The 3 has been over punched with a 9

[Coinery]

The 3 has been over punched with a 9

I never noticed that! Perhaps that was the point of the bath, some hope of retrieving the underlying 3, such a waste

[bagerap]

Thanks all. I'm surprised that so much detail survives after nearly 50% weight loss.

[Coinery]

Thanks all. I'm surprised that so much detail survives after nearly 50% weight loss.

The underlying stress-lines created, by what are immense forces, run deep into the metal of a coin! I know within the last year someone had the images of another coin (I think that may have been a penny too) up on the forum which had suffered the same fate...the underlying stress-lines of the border teeth were the subject of some interesting discussions, as I recall. Would be worth digging it out for a read!

[Accumulator]

Thanks all. I'm surprised that so much detail survives after nearly 50% weight loss.

The underlying stress-lines created, by what are immense forces, run deep into the metal of a coin! I know within the last year someone had the images of another coin (I think that may have been a penny too) up on the forum which had suffered the same fate...the underlying stress-lines of the border teeth were the subject of some interesting discussions, as I recall. Would be worth digging it out for a read!

It was mine:

[Coinery]

Thanks all. I'm surprised that so much detail survives after nearly 50% weight loss.

The underlying stress-lines created, by what are immense forces, run deep into the metal of a coin! I know within the last year someone had the images of another coin (I think that may have been a penny too) up on the forum which had suffered the same fate...the underlying stress-lines of the border teeth were the subject of some interesting discussions, as I recall. Would be worth digging it out for a read!

It was mine:

Ah, there you go bagerap! Damn good forum, this!

[Peckris]

Looks like a regular penny that's had a long good soak in acid to me!

Yes, I agree. It's a familiar-looking acid victim (one gets to learn their distinctive appearance!)