Silver Lincoln Cent with Liberty Bell and US Map

Question: I acquired a coin the other day that I’m having trouble finding any information on. It is a 1976 steel cent with the liberty bell imprinted on the left side of Lincoln’s head and the outline of the USA on the right side. Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. - Melissa

Answer: Melissa,

It sounds like you have a novelty coin, or a cent that left the mint as a regular coin but was afterwards altered to add the liberty bell and map of the US. Similar novelty coins can be purchased for $0.35. Steel cents were only minted in 1943, so it’s most likely that either the coin was plated with silver or the outer copper layer was chemically removed.

Here’s a silver-plated cent for sale on eBay that’s going for a few dollars.