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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,106 |
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Valued Member
United States
146 Posts |
i have a few 1960 pennies, and a few 1982 pennies(i know they are not rare just trying to fill some holes!) but I cant tell the difference between the large and small dates on both. Plus zinc and copper for the '82. pictures maybe? any help appreciated!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
764 Posts |
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Valued Member
 United States
146 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
146 Posts |
does anyone else have problems identifying these? Is one or the other rare(r)?
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Valued Member
United States
74 Posts |
I'm not sure which of the 1960 pennies are more uncommon. On the 82s though, I seem to get Zincs about 10% of the time, and Small dates about 10% of the time. So I would think the small zinc pennies would be the hardest to find, although not really rare. Also, this might just be coincidence that I always get Large coppers. Plus, I've only searched about 600-700 pennies so far.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
533 Posts |
I know that a few people don't like this technique, but if you flip the coins (think heads or tails, call it in the air) the copper coin will have a clear ring like a small, round tuning fork the entire time that it is in the air, the zinc, absolutely nothing. Be sure to catch the coin, and I would suggest a carpeted room for those occations when you miss. It is really kinda cool. I wouldn't try this with any UNC cents though.
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Valued Member
United States
146 Posts |
Morgan, I flipped all 6 of my 82's they both looked the same in the air, now I guess it's possible that they are all copper...but I doubt it unless the zinc is rare and I think I'm looking for the wrong thing when I flip it. I see a "trail" of the penny when its spinning in the air, is that right?
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Moderator
 United States
187940 Posts |
What you want to do is listen to the sound it makes. I would flip a known copper (pre-1982) and then a known zinc then compare those sounds!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
533 Posts |
No, they will look the same. It is the sound, the copper one will ring while a zinc one won't. It is a clear, fairly high pitched ringing sound. Once you hear it, it is unmistakeable. that is how I went through all my '82s. I had at least a couple rolls of them, and I just sat there with two cups flipping the coins in the air and sorting them.
Another way, though slightly more time consuming is to construct a 'balance scale' from a popsicle stick and a round pencil. construct it so two post '82 cents balance perfectly, then replace one with an '82, if they continue to balance the '82 is zinc, if the new coin is heavier it is copper.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1807 Posts |
Edited by rockdude
08/01/2008 11:43 am
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New Member
United States
10 Posts |
what percent of the 82's were zinc and copper?
i just went through a pile and found about 70% were copper. is this typical?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1807 Posts |
Were the 70% small or larger dates?
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Valued Member
United States
146 Posts |
i feel stupid lol, that did the trick and I didnt have much trouble differing the large dates from the small ones.... now to the 60's I have 3 of them and I can't tell the difference... so I'm guessing they are all the same
and by the way thanks for the help
Edited by ImTheCrew
08/01/2008 4:17 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1807 Posts |
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,106 |
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Posted 07/31/2008 08:05 am
