Garretterika, you've come across a real puzzler. My first guess was that the copper and copper-nickel alloy sheets used to prepare the clad planchets might have had incorrect thickness. If there were more of the lighter metal component and less of the heavier component, the result could be a light planchet with correct total thickness. However, I checked out the density ratings of pure copper, pure nickel, and copper-nickel alloy and they all fall into the 8.9 - 8.96 grams per cubic centimeter range. Given this tiny density difference, you would never see weight changes due to varying ratios of core metal to cladding metal.
I expect that the large weight difference you report could only come from either a thin planchet or a planchet that contains a component with lower density than copper or nickel. Zinc is one example of a lighter metal, with a density of 7.14 grams/cc. If your halves were dated after 1982 I might suspect that some zinc cents were accidentally included in the melt when they prepared the planchet alloy!
Technology is available that can detect various metals in an object without causing damage. Years ago I has a QC job that involved testing solder-covered wire to verify the solder alloy. An X-Ray Diffraction device was used that measured the lead-to-tin ratio in the coating. This machine could identify silver, gold, platinum, and most other metals. If you're willing to do some more digging and perhaps spend some money, you might find a lab that could at least determine whether there was something other than copper and nickel in your coins.
All in all, a fascinating puzzle! Please report if you find out anything else about your lightweight halves. Meanwhile, I think I'll start weighing my 1972 and 1979 Kennedys!
I expect that the large weight difference you report could only come from either a thin planchet or a planchet that contains a component with lower density than copper or nickel. Zinc is one example of a lighter metal, with a density of 7.14 grams/cc. If your halves were dated after 1982 I might suspect that some zinc cents were accidentally included in the melt when they prepared the planchet alloy!
Technology is available that can detect various metals in an object without causing damage. Years ago I has a QC job that involved testing solder-covered wire to verify the solder alloy. An X-Ray Diffraction device was used that measured the lead-to-tin ratio in the coating. This machine could identify silver, gold, platinum, and most other metals. If you're willing to do some more digging and perhaps spend some money, you might find a lab that could at least determine whether there was something other than copper and nickel in your coins.
All in all, a fascinating puzzle! Please report if you find out anything else about your lightweight halves. Meanwhile, I think I'll start weighing my 1972 and 1979 Kennedys!





















