So, has anyone here actually copper-plated a steel cent?

[James_OldeTowne]

What's the actual mechanical and/or chemical process used to turn a steel cent into a fake 1943 copper? Does the host coin need to be acid-treated first?

 

Tell us how it's done!

[relicsncoins]

I've never done it, but I'm guessing you could just simply electroplate it. The simplest way to do that is to take a 9 volt battery and attach a wire to the negative post and attach something copper to the wire. You then attach a wire to the positive post and attach a steel penny to that wire. Place both the copper object and the steel penny into a bucket of water. (not touching). Current will then flow from negative to positive deposting copper atoms on to the surface of the steel penny.

 

JJ

[Oldtrader3]

We did it in High School chemistry. Same as described above, except we used a diluted acid to speed up the electrolysis.

[just-john]

If you have any chrome parts platers like bumpers and car parts lots of time they copper plate the part before it is chromed.

[PerryHall]

I heard a story where someone found a copper 1943 cent and his wife accidentally spent it. It made the national news and the claim was made that it was worth $100,000. Someone that had a grudge against a local coin dealer bought several rolls of steel 1943 cents, had them copper plated, and then put them in circulation. People that found them drove the local coin dealer crazy.