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1915 Lincoln Cent Struck on Full-Size Nickel Planchet
This is one of two known authenticated and certified Lincoln Cent off-metal prior to 1916. It was recently featured in a front page Coin World article and described as a possible Mint Experiment Test Piece. This was struck on a full-size planchet of Nickel composition.
Pollock lists as #2028, "Nickel. Plain edge. Unique? Listed in Judd as being a Mint Error."
S&N Labs analyzed this off-metal for elemental composition using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX). The composition was a copper-nickel alloy.
This is the same alloy that was used to strike the Buffalo Nickels during this time period.
This 1915 Lincoln Cent is on a full-size planchet as the rims are full and sharp. If it was struck on a foreign planchet, there would be weakness in the rims.
