1963 was a good year for pennies
December 21, 2007 7:27 PM Subscribe
Why do 1960s pennies look different?
I have noticed that that a lot of 1960s U.S. pennies (one-cent coins) look significantly different from other years.
For example, this 1963 penny on my desk has a shinier surface and a slightly more orange tint than all of the others. It also seems rounded away from the edge on the "heads" side, and a more rounded profile of Lincoln that also protrudes further.
All I could find online was that pennies were bronze until 1962, and then brass from 1962-1982. However, the 1970s and early 1980s pennies I have look nothing like this. I also remember seeing a 1968 penny that did look this way.
Was there something special about the minting process in the 1960s?
I have noticed that that a lot of 1960s U.S. pennies (one-cent coins) look significantly different from other years.
For example, this 1963 penny on my desk has a shinier surface and a slightly more orange tint than all of the others. It also seems rounded away from the edge on the "heads" side, and a more rounded profile of Lincoln that also protrudes further.
All I could find online was that pennies were bronze until 1962, and then brass from 1962-1982. However, the 1970s and early 1980s pennies I have look nothing like this. I also remember seeing a 1968 penny that did look this way.
Was there something special about the minting process in the 1960s?
Response by poster: Ouch, that's embarrassing!
nkknkk: That article provides the same information as the Wikipedia article I looked at, i.e. putting everything from 1962-1982 into one category.
posted by qvtqht at 7:47 PM on December 21, 2007
nkknkk: That article provides the same information as the Wikipedia article I looked at, i.e. putting everything from 1962-1982 into one category.
posted by qvtqht at 7:47 PM on December 21, 2007
Yeah, there's the information age for you: cribbing and robbing.
posted by parmanparman at 8:24 PM on December 21, 2007
posted by parmanparman at 8:24 PM on December 21, 2007
The orange tint has to do with the oxidation - they're pinkish when new, turn a bit orange, then brown as they oxidize. The outer surface has always been copper, so the outer surface on a mint condition penny stored in an airtight plastic case should look the same color from 1900 to 2100.
posted by lrodman at 11:29 PM on December 21, 2007
posted by lrodman at 11:29 PM on December 21, 2007
The outer surface has always been copper
well... except for those zinc war time pennies. ;D
posted by whatisish at 8:17 AM on December 22, 2007
well... except for those zinc war time pennies. ;D
posted by whatisish at 8:17 AM on December 22, 2007
I clicked on thread hoping to find a link to 1960 different penises.
*sigh*
Perhaps you have come in contact with several 1960s pennies that haven't circulated much, which has left them shinier. You have probably seen a lot more pennies from the 1960s that look like average pennies, but you just didn't notice them.
posted by HotPatatta at 4:52 PM on December 22, 2007
*sigh*
Perhaps you have come in contact with several 1960s pennies that haven't circulated much, which has left them shinier. You have probably seen a lot more pennies from the 1960s that look like average pennies, but you just didn't notice them.
posted by HotPatatta at 4:52 PM on December 22, 2007
Yeah I did the same thing - 1960 penises - was VERY curious!
posted by shaarog at 6:59 PM on December 22, 2007
posted by shaarog at 6:59 PM on December 22, 2007
except for those zinc war time pennies
They were steel, not zinc, and it was 1943. Modern pennies are a copper-plated zinc core.
posted by SlyBevel at 9:32 PM on December 25, 2007
They were steel, not zinc, and it was 1943. Modern pennies are a copper-plated zinc core.
posted by SlyBevel at 9:32 PM on December 25, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
But I think this is what you're looking for: USA Today History of the Metal Composition of the Penny
posted by nkknkk at 7:39 PM on December 21, 2007