1983-D Cent Copper - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 20 / Views: 3,921	Page: of 2
connie0319 Valued Member United States 68 Posts	Posted 07/30/2015 12:46 am I came across this 1983d penny - cent coin. I did some research on coins from the years of 82 and 83. The year these coins went from being made of copper to zinc. I have done the 3 "basic" tests per internet videos and information. One being the date second being weight difference and third the "Drop" and "listen" difference test. I am curious as to you alls opinion on if what I have found could possibly be a copper 1983 D coin... Seeing as how it failed the date test, naturally, but went on to weigh more than a zinc coin (using a 2012 penny to compare its weight against) and seemed to sound different than that of the 2012 coin when dropped on a hard surface, but sounded very similar if not exactly like that of a 1977 coin when dropped on the same hard surface.... What do you all think? Thanks so much !! Ive attached a few pictures some not so good but it was the best I could produce on my phone camera. Report this Post to the Staff

Fuzzy317 Moderator United States 14463 Posts	Posted 07/30/2015 12:50 am What was its weight? Should be 2.5 grams for Zincoln, 3.11 grams for copper cent Report this Post to the Staff
connie0319 Valued Member United States 68 Posts	Posted 07/30/2015 12:52 am with the scale I used it showed 3.1 Report this Post to the Staff
cwb Pillar of the Community United States 3463 Posts	Posted 07/30/2015 01:07 am If the weight is 3.1 grams, it should be Copper. How much did the 2012 coin weigh? Is there any way you can get some better photographs? Report this Post to the Staff
CoinMasters Pillar of the Community United States 5964 Posts	Posted 07/30/2015 01:22 am Report this Post to the Staff
CoinMasters Pillar of the Community United States 5964 Posts	Posted 07/30/2015 01:35 am If you take it to a coin shop or jeweler, they can weigh it with their accurate scale )don't let it out of your sight(. If it is 3.11, it may be copper. Some jewelers have a machine that can tell you the composition. If it is copper, it could be extremely valuable. We had a 1983 on here a while back, but it turned out to be zinc. Report this Post to the Staff
connie0319 Valued Member United States 68 Posts	Posted 07/30/2015 01:50 am thanks so much !! I'll take it to "MY" coin guy tomorrow. Report this Post to the Staff
SilverStackerKid Pillar of the Community United States 6478 Posts	Posted 07/30/2015 02:30 am Looks like zinc rot on the D. Might be a pillar sticking out of his chin? Report this Post to the Staff
Fuzzy317 Moderator United States 14463 Posts	Posted 07/30/2015 02:35 am Wish you the best of luck, cause a copper 1983-D could be valuable. Please report back your findings. Report this Post to the Staff
cwb Pillar of the Community United States 3463 Posts	Posted 07/30/2015 03:05 am The photos you posted don't look right at all. I have seen some of the other coins you have posted and they look much clearer than this one. Is there a reason you can't post any better photos? Report this Post to the Staff
kakaratt77 Pillar of the Community United States 1414 Posts	Posted 07/30/2015 04:03 am It's not copper, as SSK pointed out look at the date and MM area, has Zincoln written all over it. Report this Post to the Staff
John1 Moderator United States 56855 Posts	Posted 07/30/2015 04:45 am Report this Post to the Staff
Cascade Pillar of the Community United States 7390 Posts	Posted 07/30/2015 3:07 pm Report this Post to the Staff
X2an Pillar of the Community Sweden 1078 Posts	Posted 07/30/2015 5:33 pm I agree this is a zinc-based coin. The weight increase is from the zinc reacting with its environment, rotting. The zinc picks up particles from the air and binds with them, increasing in mass. Going stricly by weight this is a red herring indeed. For the drop test, the tone doesn't differ too much, it's rather the length of it. If the tone is long and slowly tones out then it's copper, if it gets silenced almost instantly then it's zinc. The better way to listen to this is to balance the coin on the tip of your finger and touch it gently with a hard object, maybe another coin. Report this Post to the Staff
CoinMasters Pillar of the Community United States 5964 Posts	Posted 07/30/2015 11:23 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Finn235 Pillar of the Community United States 6130 Posts	Posted 07/30/2015 11:55 pm Give it a "heads or tails" flip. Zinc will let out a dull thud; copper will ring in the air. It really is impossible to mistake the two. A 1983-D copper cent is an "early retirement" type of error coin. While not unknown, Denver was very diligent in clearing the copper planchets out of the machines before switching the the 1982 small date dies. It is very likely that the extremely few copper 1983-D cents were made intentionally by employees of the Mint. I do wish you the best of luck, but there is a 99.9999% chance this is just a normal '83-D. Report this Post to the Staff
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