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Replies: 17 / Views: 3,470 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
558 Posts |
As a noob I am not really sure which grades I should keep from the bank rolls that I go through?
Opinions would greatly be appreciated.
Thank you!
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
The highest possible of course. John1 
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
558 Posts |
Do you ever keep multiples & exchange them with higher grades when you find those?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
I personally consider any grade AU or MS to be a keeper for 1959-82. Zinc cents are a ticking time bomb--all of them will succumb to carbon spots or zinc bubbles, whether that process will take decades or centuries. Carbon spots used to be a major problem with zinc cents up until maybe 2013 or 14, when they seemed to have found a wash that mitigated the problem somewhat. I wouldn't keep any zinc cent with any visible problems... they will only get worse.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
558 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
The composition change happened in November of 1982. All coins made after 1983 are zinc (except for like 5 known 1983 cents struck in 95% copper). All cents 1959-1981 are copper, and almost all (90-95%) of 1982 are as well.
Copper will ring if you give it a "heads or tails" toss. Zinc just gives out a thud.
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Some 1982 are copper some are zinc. Keep the highest grade you find and upgrade those with higher grades as you find them. I also keep any that have above average eye appeal. John1 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4809 Posts |
Jo - same as above. At the start, I saved thousands of coins but as you roll search, you'll continue to add to the hoard. After reading here at CCF, I changed up; started only keeping AU or better coins for some dates, BU coins for others. Try to find the problem free coins where possible. And as noted about the zinc cents (Zincolns as they are sometimes referred to as) will continue to degrade with exposure to environmental conditions. Tiny splits in the copper plating will result in a compromised coin. As you search cents, you'll see the many splits by the vertices of sharp angles between devices and the fields. The copper is so stretched there that it splits readily exposing the zinc to the air and moisture; the two great enemies of Zincolns.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
558 Posts |
Oh I was hoarding 1982 and older but I decided to only keep some key dates & doubled die errors. Oh & all wheaties!
I really need to get a book and study more (online & otherwise) about the grading, so that I don't waste my time keeping ones that I shouldn't keep in the first place.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
558 Posts |
And Finn thank you for sharing the tip about the ringing vs the thud!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5828 Posts |
any 2015 D minted with proof-like appearances you should keep. there are a LOT this year!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4809 Posts |
Good point Jo - I was speaking mainly about LMCs above. I keep all LWCs too and just about any grade on a variety/error I'm looking for.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
558 Posts |
@Finn - is it possible to get an AU or better in rolls from my bank? I don't think that I did in the first 6 that I got last week....but what do I know about such things? Very little!
@ChildOfTheWheat - why 2015 D's?
@John1 - will you please upload a pic or two of cents that are "above average eye appeal" so I can get a better idea of what you're referencing. I'm a visual learner. And I would greatly appreciate it!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5828 Posts |
Quote: @ChildOfTheWheat - why 2015 D's? This year Last year  the environmental conditions at the Denver mint produced coins with "proof like" appearances. If you have a MS-67, or up, with proof like appearances, send it to NGC and sell it on ebay. MS-68 PL's tend to sell for $300 ish! Note: the Homestead quarters also tend to be very PL... Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they were minted late 2014, early 2015?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
558 Posts |
You're saying that I may find PL 2015 D cents in bank rolls?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5828 Posts |
Yeah, you might. I think I have a box of 2015 D's around here somewhere, ill crack a few rolls and see if I find one myself...
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Replies: 17 / Views: 3,470 |