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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,221 |
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Valued Member
United States
455 Posts |
Ever notice that so many pennies in circulation today are absolutely disgusting? I mean all crudded up with black gunk and stuff? I don't get it. I remember years ago when it was worth my time to roll them up and cash them in, pennies used to have a nice coppery smell and a reddish brown hue. I quit rolling 20 years ago and decided keep what I get forever. They're in the basement in coffee cans. Nowadays when I sort my change I toss the bad ones in the trash, I don't even want to keep them. Whatever it is that infected them could contaminate my hoard. OCD?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
834 Posts |
I agree with you 100%.
Bruce.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2365 Posts |
Since 1982 they've only been copper coated. The older, real copper cents, still have that "coppery" smell and are B and sometimes RB.
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Valued Member
United States
81 Posts |
I just went through some 200 dollars worth of pennies that my daughter at the bank gave me to look at. At least this had been put up and had been saved for years. So far I have about 6 rolls of wheat, a hand full of 1955 uc and a bunch of other interesting coins. I had been out of collecting for some time and this interested me once again, this time going to the bank and getting several rolls of coins to go through. It is terrible what they have done to the cent. This last friday I got 10 rolls and it it I found 9 dimes. Seems the cents are so discolored and someone could not tell what they are and the dimes have confused someone. I think this is just part of the push to drop the cent.
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Rest in Peace
United States
3730 Posts |
TSmith3510, I do have OCD, but that's not the problem when it comes to cents. Like you, I keep all the cents that we come by -- about 50,000 to date. The other day I was looking through a few, and when done I noticed my hands were dirty and had acquired a smell.
Time for the cent to go I think.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
560 Posts |
The copper plated zinc cents aren't near as nice as the pre-82 cents; they really are "trashier" looking and the dates are much harder to read than the good old copper cents.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2271 Posts |
The new zinc cents will virtually evaporate if the plating is breached by a scratch or if it flakes off. It corrodes and frequently as a white powdery zinc oxide which can spread to other coins.
Cents have no value left since they aren't even worth the time to count them in most cases. This means they spend time on sidewalks and other places where they get banged up or dirty. Most of them not already in the landfills sit in coffee cans and boxes an can accumulate dirt in these places as well. Circulation not only wears coins away but also polishes and "cleans" them. Sitting allows them to corrode.
We spend a fortune every day producing and handling these worthless "coins". It's ironic that they are also quite toxic and should be kept far away from pets and babies.
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
I agree that it is time for the cent to go. The zinc things are lighter than the copper versions and they wear terribly. Have you ever seen one after a short time in salt water? Every place where the copper plate is scratched you get an explosion of zinc oxide that swells the plate outward. Even when they remain in circulation they get discolored and ugly looking.
I would vote for using plastic tokens for 5 and 10 cents coins and to do away with $1 paper bills. The current 5 cent sized coin could become the quarter dollar and the quarter size the Dollar. A nice bi-metalic coin could be used for $2 and $5.
With the savings in metal, the government could pay for some decent looking designs.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
773 Posts |
TSmith3510,
I bought some "coin cleaner" from my dealer the other day.He showed me a sample of what it does to copper coins,and the results are wicked.
It does a nice job on a crummy Jefferson,but as for copper,I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth trying to save or not.
I've had a few soaking in olive oil,for at least six months now with no effect,but I have a couple of key dates in there,I just hate to part with,or to clean,but then again what choice would I have?
I just can't throw them away no matter,but that's just me.What to do?What to do.....
:) sn31......
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Rest in Peace
Australia
661 Posts |
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Valued Member
 United States
455 Posts |
quote swamperbob: " I would vote for using plastic tokens for 5 and 10 cents coins and to do away with $1 paper bills. The current 5 cent sized coin could become the quarter dollar and the quarter size the Dollar. A nice bi-metalic coin could be used for $2 and $5."  I like your thinking swamper. I think the plastic would catch on after a while but there may be counterfeiting concerns (then again, who could be bothered?). I wonder if congress is talking about stuff like this? They could save the taxpayers a boat load of money! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
I know that one of the objections to most plans is the vending machine business. If they reused the existing weights and sizes for higher denominations - the machines would still work. The cost of higher value metal discs would still be advantageous to the government and plastic 1 and 5 cent coins are essentially worthless anyway - so who cares.
I think it could work and then we would get a bunch of new designs to look at.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4589 Posts |
I have to agree with you Bob, that would save the tax payers and the Goverment alot of money but , with that saving They would only vote them selves a raise.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1026 Posts |
You wonder how some get to look as bad as they do?
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,221 |
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Posted 02/11/2007 9:51 pm
