Can This 1972 Lincoln Cent Be Made Into Jewelry? A Crafter’s Guide

Introduction: Not Every Coin Is Suitable for Crafting

As a coin ring artisan, I’m often asked whether a particular coin would make a good candidate for jewelry making. When I saw this 1972 Lincoln Cent posted in the forum, I immediately recognized both its potential and its limitations for crafting purposes. Let me walk you through my professional assessment of this coin’s suitability for transformation into wearable art.

Metal Composition and Hardness Analysis

The 1972 Lincoln Cent is composed of 95% copper and 5% zinc, making it a relatively soft metal with a Mohs hardness of approximately 3.0-3.5. This composition offers several advantages for jewelry crafting:

• Workability: The copper-zinc alloy is malleable enough to shape without specialized equipment
• Patina development: Over time, copper develops a beautiful verdigris patina that many collectors find appealing
• Affordability: The low intrinsic value means you can experiment without significant financial risk

However, the softness also presents challenges:

• Durability concerns: Copper coins scratch and ding easily during the ring-making process
• Wear patterns: Daily wear as jewelry will accelerate surface degradation
• Skin reactions: Some wearers may experience green staining from copper oxidation

Design Details and Aesthetic Appeal

The 1972 Lincoln Cent features the classic Victor David Brenner design that has remained largely unchanged since 1909. For jewelry purposes, several design elements stand out:

The Lincoln Portrait

The obverse features a dignified profile of Abraham Lincoln that translates beautifully into a ring. The raised relief creates interesting texture when the coin is shaped into a band. However, the forum discussion noted significant marks on the devices, particularly around Lincoln’s face and ear area. These imperfections would be incorporated into the final piece, adding character but potentially detracting from the overall aesthetic.

The Memorial Reverse

While this particular coin shows the Memorial reverse (introduced in 1959), earlier wheat ear designs are often preferred by jewelry makers for their classic appeal. The Memorial design, however, offers a more contemporary look that appeals to modern tastes.

Doubled Die Characteristics

The forum identified this as potentially being an FS-107 variety with doubling in the motto. From a crafting perspective, this doubling creates additional visual interest in the final piece. The split serif on the last “T” in “CENT” mentioned in the discussion would become a distinctive feature in the ring’s design.

Condition Assessment for Crafting

Based on the forum discussion, this coin appears to be in circulated condition with several notable marks:

• “Sever marks” on the devices that would limit it to a maximum grade of 65
• A flat ear detail that reduces the overall relief
• Potential hole or damage above and behind the ear area

For jewelry making, these condition issues are actually less critical than they would be for a collector. The marks and wear would be incorporated into the ring’s character, and the flattening that occurs during the ring-making process would minimize the appearance of surface imperfections.

Crafting Potential: Pros and Cons

Advantages for Jewelry Making

• Historical significance: Lincoln cents carry cultural weight that adds meaning to jewelry pieces
• Size versatility: The 19mm diameter works well for various ring sizes
• Color development: Copper’s natural aging process creates unique, personalized pieces
• Affordability: Low material cost allows for experimentation

Limitations to Consider

• Softness: Prone to scratching and deformation
• Patina inconsistency: May develop uneven coloration
• Size constraints: Limited to smaller ring sizes without complex techniques
• Legal considerations: Defacing currency is technically illegal, though rarely enforced for jewelry

Crafting Techniques for Lincoln Cents

Based on my experience, here are the most effective techniques for transforming this coin into jewelry:

Traditional Ring Making

The classic approach involves drilling out the center and gradually shaping the coin into a ring using mandrels and specialized tools. The copper composition makes this relatively straightforward, though the softness requires careful handling to avoid over-thinning the metal.

Bezel Setting

For preserving more of the coin’s original detail, creating a bezel setting allows the coin to remain largely intact while being mounted as a pendant or charm. This technique works particularly well for showcasing the doubled die characteristics mentioned in the forum.

Patina Enhancement

Many jewelry makers intentionally accelerate the patina process using liver of sulfur or other chemicals to create contrast between the raised and recessed areas of the design. The doubling in the motto would become more pronounced with this technique.

Market Value and Investment Considerations

The forum discussion revealed interesting perspectives on the coin’s numismatic value:

The value is, at best, a couple bucks. It is not worth encapsulating.

This assessment aligns with my crafting perspective. For jewelry purposes, the coin’s face value and minimal collector premium make it an excellent candidate for transformation. The doubled die variety adds some interest but not enough to preserve the coin in its original state.

Conclusion: A Promising Crafting Candidate

While this 1972 Lincoln Cent may not be valuable to collectors, it presents an excellent opportunity for jewelry making. The copper composition, classic design, and doubled die characteristics combine to create a piece with both visual appeal and historical significance.

The condition issues that would detract from its numismatic value actually enhance its character as a handcrafted piece of jewelry. The softness of the metal makes it workable for artisans of various skill levels, while the low cost allows for experimentation without significant financial risk.

For anyone considering transforming this coin into jewelry, I would recommend embracing its imperfections and using techniques that highlight rather than hide the doubling and wear patterns. The result would be a unique, meaningful piece that carries both the weight of American history and the personal touch of handcrafted artistry.

Remember that the true value of coin jewelry lies not in its metal content or rarity, but in its ability to tell a story and create a connection between the wearer and the rich history embedded in these small copper discs.

Related Resources

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