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 Replies: 22 / Views: 1,988 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4541 Posts |
Anyone know how to detect a 1982 95% copper Lincoln's. I think there were a lot of varieties that year and I think there were some with 95% copper in them?!?!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2049 Posts |
Some people say the two different coins have a different sound when dropped on a counter but I dont know what to listen for. I use a digital scale that measures in grams (I picked one up at a coin show for $20 and it was well worth it). The ones that are 95% copper weigh in at about 3.1 grams, while the mostly zinc ones weigh in at 2.5 grams. It's helpful for other pennies where the date might be covered up due to crud, and also for coins that you want to make sure are not counterfeit.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2049 Posts |
Here is the model I use: http://cgi.ebay.com/USN-150-Digital...ck_W0QQitemZ200169161832QQihZ010QQcategoryZ11814QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem I guess I overpaid slightly but that's what you get for wanting something right away. If you buy it, make sure it comes with the calibration weight. |
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Valued Member
United States
486 Posts |
More than 90% of the 82's I find are copper and I cant understand why a lot of penny sorting people cash them in for face value. Anyway find a zinc year penny and a copper year penny, flip each one, you will find the copper penny has a harmonious ring when flipped and the zinc penny does not ring at all. After a little bit of practice you will easily be able to distinguish the copper 82's from the zinc 82's. Good Luck! -PP
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2049 Posts |
Oh one other idea I saw is to get a popsicle stick and glue eithe a known copper or known zinc to one end. You can then use it as a scale if you put the stick on a pencil like a teeter totter. Not the most scientific method but should work and be very inexpensive at the same time.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4541 Posts |
OK I will try that! Thanks for the info! I guess no mint mark distinguishes huh? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4541 Posts |
Just tried dropping a copper cent and a zinc cent and I can tell the copper has higher pitch ring to it! thanks again for the info
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1179 Posts |
Or you can put them in your mouth and taste the difference.
Sorry, I couldn't resist. I still cant believe somebody does that.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1934 Posts |
Or you can put them in your mouth and taste the difference.
Sorry, I couldn't resist. I still cant believe somebody does that.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7629 Posts |
Dropping them is by far the easiest and most reliable way to tell the difference.
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Valued Member
United States
380 Posts |
yes , several varieties if you sort out sm dt and lg dates into zinc and copper.forget which combination was not pressed.edited to add:1982 sm date copper not pressed.
Edited by errorfinder
03/02/2008 11:55 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Yes dropping them onto a hard service can really work. In fact if you drop them from a tall building you would notice that the one that dent the most are not the Copper ones. Then of course there is the Butane Torch or Arc Welder Torch method. You now melt the coins and the ones that are pure Copper will stay pure Copper. You could take a nail and scratch each one. The Copper Plated Zinc ones will show the Zinc through the scatch. All such methods will naturally hurt the coins but who cares about what someone else may want.  As noted just take a popsicle stick, ice cream stick and balance it on a six sided pencil. Glue it in place. You now have cheap balance beam scale that will not hurt the coins in any respect. Place a later than 82 at one end and glue it in place. Now any cent you place on the opposite end will either make it balance or drop. If it drops, it is Copper. If it balances, it is the Zinc ones. So many people just don't care about some kid collecting that wants as perfect a coin as possible from change so be nice to all of them. |
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Valued Member
United States
243 Posts |
The little balance beam works the best,I glued a little 4 inch plastic ruler onto a short piece of hex.type pencil then glue any zinc penny on the end and you have it.Place a penny on it ,if it balances its zinc,if copper it goes down.
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Valued Member
United States
243 Posts |
Justcarl,Looks like you beat me to it,THE story of my life.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4541 Posts |
Found a lot of the 1982 copper ones are overlooked!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
The little balance beam works the best,I glued a little 4 inch plastic ruler onto a short piece of hex.type pencil then glue any zinc penny on the end and you have it.Place a penny on it ,if it balances its zinc,if copper it goes down.
You missed the best part of my suggestion. In order to get the popsicle or ice creame stick, you have to eat the product first.
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Replies: 22 / Views: 1,988 |
Posted 03/01/2008 9:52 pm
