| Author |
 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,333 |
|
|
Valued Member
United States
81 Posts |
Getting back into coin collecting again, I just opened one of my penny books to find out that all of the zinc pennies had coroded so bad that it had even got on the side of the circled holder. I have seen some of these coins at work that were minted in 1995 that are so bad you can hardly tell what they are.
Guess this might be a push in another few years to do away with this coin all together.
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1454 Posts |
Sorry to hear that. What part of the country you live in? Where did you store them? Sounds like a humidity problem perhaps.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2365 Posts |
It does sound like a humidity problem. 2x2's or tubes should help to eliminate the problem in future acquisitions. Open coin folders are just asking for problems.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7123 Posts |
If your going to store coins in the coin folders wrap them it a few layers of Aluminum foil and do a nice smooth job of it.
copper plated Zinc or for that matter copper Cents that are left to their own devices will not fair well copper is highly reactive and folders once affected by humidity will hold the moisture and transfer it to the coins ,,the corrosion that developes feeds on itself and spreads rapidly.
Sorry to hear about the damaged ruined cents, but the bright spot is that these cents are fairly easy to replace .
Metalman
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
3730 Posts |
Must be humidity. I recently dug out my Lincoln Cent collections to look at them, and to see what I still needed. Didn't see any damage to the coins whatsoever. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
830 Posts |
Welcome wardtom084 !!!  When you get replacement coins for your collection I'd suggest getting a Dansco album with the protective slipcase for your set. The slipcase has material in it that protects from corrosion. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2600 Posts |
WT084, After reading your post, I went and looked at the coins in my to be looked at jar. Keep it around for a rainy day project. To my surprise, the newer zinc pennies vs. the older cents (both monikers for Metalman  ) are fairing much worse in condition. It appears to be corrosion as you have suggested. Hmmmmmmm? I live on the east coast and right up against the ocean and maybe this is having an effect. These coins have not been stored and have been in circulation so it is not that they have been setting around in some damp place. It will be interesting to watch in the future. Jim  |
|
Valued Member
 United States
81 Posts |
Thanks for the info guys. I am going to enjoy this place.
I live in the extreme western part of N.C. and there is a creek right next to the house so sure there is some water problem.
It is going to be interesting what these cents look like 20 years from now because they are sure not holding up as it is.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
67 Posts |
One would think someone might have done some research on how copper reacts with zinc over time....just to rule that out. I have all my S mint wheat cents in 2x2's for the cheaper dates - I do check them now and then as most of them are nice and red mint state. They seem to be doing fine so far. I don't live near the ocean tho.  Edited by Toblerone2
01/16/2007 4:12 pm
|
|
Valued Member
United States
81 Posts |
How zinc reacts with copper !!!! You look at a 1995 cent and you can tell now and then. You can't tell what kind of coin it is.
I think that they have made a big mistake. But... a good reason for all to drop the cent in the near future like some have been talking about.
I would not be suprised to find that the mint is melting down the old ones to make new ones. Bet they can get 5 to one.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1840 Posts |
For long-term storage I put my coins in on of these with a couple bags of dessicant: http://www.basspro.com/servlet/cata...earchResultsI use the same boxes to protect my fishing gear and tools when I'm out on the water. The larger size boxes are big enough to fit several 3 ring binders or albums. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2271 Posts |
The early zinc cents are especially problematical. Before 1986 the vast majority of these coins have plating problems and it's simply a matter of time until they corrode. Even later dates often have small defects which allow the zinc to begin rusting.
The '84-D cents in mint sets are more than half gone and some of the others are right behind them. People assume all these coins are common but this is far from the truth. When you figure large numbers will decompose then there are some which will be quite rare in nice condition.
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
70 Posts |
There's a couple possible reasons for this. Some metals produce a reaction called "galvanic corrosion" and accelerate the corrosion process. For example: if you bolt stainless steel together using steel fasteners the "galvanic corrosion" between the dissimilar metals will rot the stainless steel and the fasteners. Also, if you're old enough to remember older cars, the door handles and trim were made of zinc die castings (pot metal) and then chrome plated. The zinc would rot from the inside out and blister and corrode the chrome. These trim pieces were triple plated with copper-nickel and then chrome.....and they still rotted. Zinc is a sacrificial metal and that's why it's used on marine equipment to keep the more expensive parts from rotting. If you live near the ocean there's only one metal that WILL NOT BE affected by the salt air environment and that's GOLD. I guess we should all quit collecting pennies and start collecting Gold coins  |
| |
Replies: 12 / Views: 1,333 |
|
Posted 01/15/2007 11:02 pm
