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 Replies: 34 / Views: 15,112 |
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Valued Member
United States
55 Posts |
Hello. I do not normally post on forums but we are fairly new to collecting pennies and I could use some help. I sent in a 1983 penny to ANACS and they sent me this back. Can someone explain to me what exactly it means? We thought it was a copper penny considering the weight but they say bronze. Is that good, bad, or meaningless? Thank you for any feedback :)  Edited by honeystuff
03/24/2012 9:14 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
"Copper" cents are not 100% copper. They're an alloy that people call "bronze". I think it's technically a brass, but people call it bronze.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1195 Posts |
"Bronze" describes a certain array of alloys that are mostly comprised of copper, one of which was used to make the LMC. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
 to CCF! Nevermind I did not read your post.  Nice cent! Edited by amida17
03/24/2012 10:12 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
It means that the mint transitioned Lincoln cents from bronze to copper plated zinc in mid 1982 and that all 1983 cents are supposed to be copper plated zinc cents. The blank your cent is from 1982 or earlier and therefore an error and probably worth a pretty penny. Edit: Forgot to say Edited by TNG
03/24/2012 10:57 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
, honeystuff! Bronze is just a more technically correct term than copper. You got a winner. |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
to CCF. A copper cent should weigh 3.11g and a copper plated zinc core 2.5g so if your coin weighs 3.04 I am not sure what anacs is saying. If it's a real 1983 copper planchet that weighs 3.11g then it would be worth a lot of money. Good luck with your research on this one and let us know what you find out. John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7629 Posts |
What it means is that your coin was truck on a wrong planchet, probably a slightly underweight 1982 planchet. Regardless of whether they improperly call it 'bronze' or properly call it 'brass' it's still very scarce and quite valuable.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2737 Posts |
The alloy is 95% copper and 5% zinc, which technically makes it brass. However, with so little zinc in the mix, the color is indistinguishable from bronze, which is an alloy of copper and tin. Tin was abandoned after 1962.
At 3.04 grams, the weight of your coin falls within the normal range of variation for copper-alloy cents. It is therefore a "transitional" planchet error, and quite valuable.
Error coin writer and researcher.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3077 Posts |
I thought an 83 bronze was a myth Great find
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Valued Member
 United States
55 Posts |
Thank you for all your replies. I appreciate the information. I am somewhat of a dummy when it comes to coins. It's my ex-husband's hobby, actually. So, what you are saying is this is THE 1983 copper penny that is impossible to find?
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Valued Member
United States
275 Posts |
not impossible, just many people don't know how to search for it , and even if they were looking at it ,like anything else,there would be a huge chance theyd still toss it back. Knowledge is power, but like the experts have already stated it is rare. Pay special attention to what Coppercoins and Mike Diamond have said for when they speak the clouds open up rays of sunlight shine upon you and whatever they say can be heard in the tones of "If you build it they will come"
Edited by Coppertop
03/25/2012 12:45 pm
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Valued Member
United States
55 Posts |
Thank you so much! I will let my ex know his hard work is paying off. Thank you for the fast answers :)
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Valued Member
United States
55 Posts |
"Pay special attention to what Coppercoins and Mike Diamond have said for when they speak the clouds open up rays of sunlight shine upon you and whatever they say can be heard in the tones of "If you build it they will come"
That was funny! hahaha As soon as my ex read this page he pointed to both of them and said I believe HIM and HIM... so I believe they may be the coin gods.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3640 Posts |
I knew it, I knew it, I knew it. I've been laughed at over the years when I've told people that I look for an 83 copper. Super find. Saw that one sold yrs. ago for 15K you got a real winner there. I'll keep looking as usual. I use this crude balance (see pics.) for exactly that. Made it yrs. ago. It's dead on if not much to look at. I also have 3 scales but just keep this on my desk. It's handy. 6" tongue depressor, 3" piece of plastic drinking straw, some glue and scotch tape. You can glue the straw on also if you like. Just measure and center everything and bingo ! "I WILL FIND ONE"    |
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Valued Member
United States
64 Posts |
Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.
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Replies: 34 / Views: 15,112 |
Posted 03/24/2012 9:24 pm
