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 Replies: 12 / Views: 2,447 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
593 Posts |
Happy New Year to All Help me to figure an easy way to tell from copper or zinc cents.  I saved a lot of LMC and want to check them for errors etc. 1982 P & D and others and the years with Wide AM and Close AM that are worth searching for in the Zincolns. Or where I can look to get the name of a good web page. I gets boring in the rain and cold and several thousand LMC to check or do a penny dump  Gary |
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Moderator
 United States
14463 Posts |
I think the best way to tell is by weight. I use a digital scale.
Copper Cents = 3.1 grams
Zinc Cent = 2.5 grams
Some others make a balance to test suspect coins against known Cents. Some say there is a sound when dropped, but I never could really tell a difference.
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Moderator
United States
34397 Posts |
 A balance is a quick method. "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I you are CRH'ing, you are looking at them fairly closely anyway.
I reckon it is quicker to look at the date.
You will soon become skilled enough to pick the small date '82's in the process, because that is the cutoff date copper vs zincolns.
Post '82 are zinc cored.
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
The only need for a scale or other methods is for the 1982 7- coin series, four are zinc, three copper. If all in a pile, takes very little time to toss on a scale, flip left, flip right.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12817 Posts |
Ring test. Drop from a few inches above your hard surface of choice. Accurate every time and fast. The lovely ring indicates copper. The "thud" indicates zinc. If you're worried about damaging your coin or your desk with this method:
1) You have a very valuable coin and should already know what it is, and/or
2) You spent way too much money on your desk, or it's made of balsa wood.
I understand that this method doesn't work for everyone.
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Moderator
United States
15409 Posts |
Purchase an inexpensive digital scale that has a resolution of 0.01 grams .... there are many available for less than $20.
Weight is a key characteristic of all coins .... and the only true indicator of zilcon versus copper 1982 cents.
Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6514 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
624 Posts |
I bought a scale on Amazon. It arrived in days, cost less than $10 and I use it primarily for 82's but also anytime I find something odd in my hunting and need more information. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Always good to have one of these around.
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Valued Member
United States
186 Posts |
The first thing I would do is look for any zinc corrosion/crust. If it isn't obvious just from that what it's made of, I would do the "ring test":
Flip it with your nail like you're doing a coin toss, and make it ring as loud as possible. Try it with one you know is copper and with one you know is zinc so you can hear the difference. The copper ones will ring and the zinc ones will thud. So with 1982's you can just flip them and listen for the noise they make.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3323 Posts |
I understand. Probably don't want to be driving that wildcat in the rain.
"Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Moderator
United States
188130 Posts |
Quote:
A balance is a quick method. |
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Replies: 12 / Views: 2,447 |
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Posted 12/29/2017 8:53 pm
