Hi all, I'm new to this forum. I've been a fan of collecting unique coins since I was a kid, however I was more so the kid who would find old penny's on the ground and collect them. Anyway back in early 2000 my grandfather noticed that I was interested in coins and before he passed he gave me two Australian penny's dated 1951 and 1961. He told me that they were rare, and that they were coated in platinum. To this day I've wondered if this was true, and if there was any value in these coins. I've attached several pictures of them, however the lighting/photography isn't the best, and understandably you can only give me so much info about them without actually seeing them in person. There is also what seems to be a bit of water damage on the coins, I'm not sure exactly as I really have no great knowledge on coins. Finally in one of the pictures I've included a normal penny just so you can get an idea in the colour difference.
I would be very grateful for anyone who could give me any info on these coins. Many thanks, Tom.
(http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o736/teedee_90/3F6103BF-5637-49D3-A275-F44F99BA6EB9-558-0000004C5FA0E524_zpscc2acbff.jpg)[/img]
(http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o736/teedee_90/25D5ABEE-D843-47FE-9182-C5C5A37DEAD2-558-0000004C3661D64F_zps82f809e6.jpg)[/img]
(http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o736/teedee_90/D80C589B-6D8C-4BCB-97A1-D7D027196BEE-558-0000004C74D8B158_zpsdf166401.jpg)[/img]
(http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o736/teedee_90/1FAFA3B6-A9B1-445A-97B5-B8F4BFB60A2A-558-0000004C14061FDA_zps9aa472e8.jpg)[/img]
Edit: apologies if I've posted this in the wrong section
hmm don't know much about pennies, I don't know if they are hard years, probably not, I only know that the 1930, 1925 and 1946 are difficult. to be honest I don't think they are in great condition I can see patches of stuff on them, I think that they are pure a novelty thing that someone has plated a circulation coin.
I don't think real collectors of high grade coins would be interested in the coins, but there are people who like different things, plated pennies on eBay are selling for $8 - $32 these are in gold but platinum rates as the same, tho I haven't seen platinum plated coins before so a nice novelty.
hope this helps
They are both common dates. Someone has plated them after they were minted, this was not done at the mint. They do seem to sell on ebay for a couple bucks. As to why? I have no idea!
Cheers for the info guys, I'd agree that they are a nice novelty. Maybe they will be more valuable in a couple hundred years haha...
i think that platinum was used in jewelery in the '50s - it's very hard
maybe a jeweler coated the coins, if it were platinum
i would have expected say, a threepence or sixpence to be coated in a such an expensive silver looking metal
you certainly see gilted pennies 'gold' or silver coated
again for decoration or special birthdates
i have a great looking 'gold' coated penny - doubt if it's real gold though!
i think the intrinsic value in your pennies is that your grandfather gave them to you, having you believe that they were rare and very special
that is the stuff that doesn't have price on it
i have some shocking old pennies
but they were my mothers and she believed that they were worth a lot of money
so i have them labeled and in eagle mounts - the holders are worth more than the pennies
but the memories are worth more to me than anything else in the world