Found Over The Weekend - 1982-D Small Date Cent - Possibly Copper

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Author	Replies: 15 / Views: 1,398
elcahall New Member United States 12 Posts	Posted 10/25/2021 1:29 pm My blood pressure went up a few points over the weekend when I found this little surprise. My kitchen scale says it's three grams, but it's old, not very accurate, and doesn't do parts of a gram. So, I ordered a new .01 gram scale which will be here tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed! Report this Post to the Staff

JimmyD Bedrock of the Community Canada 21616 Posts	Posted 10/25/2021 1:36 pm Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but that is a zinc coin. You can see zinc rot starting to set in which would not be on a copper coin. Weigh it anyways when you get your scales and let us know. Report this Post to the Staff
elcahall New Member United States 12 Posts	Posted 10/25/2021 2:01 pm Rats! I guess I need to read up on what zinc rot is. I just started learning about coins a few days ago. The scale will be here tomorrow. Maybe it's just a heavy zinc coin. Report this Post to the Staff
Bumpkin Pillar of the Community United States 509 Posts	Posted 10/25/2021 2:04 pm with JimmyD. Your current scale is going to read 3 grams regardless if it is a copper or zinc Cent. Zinc's weigh 2.55 on average which would round the weight to 3 grams and Copper's weigh 3.11 on average which would round down to 3 grams. I too am seeing what appears to be zinc rot on your coin. Zooming in on the mint mark further looks like Die Deterioration Doubling which shows itself fairly well, and often, on common copper plated zinc Lincolns. Report this Post to the Staff
ijn1944 Bedrock of the Community United States 19176 Posts	Posted 10/25/2021 2:34 pm Staying tuned... Report this Post to the Staff
coin rejector Pillar of the Community United States 2854 Posts	Posted 10/25/2021 2:57 pm Just weigh another cent on your current scale to see if its calibrated correctly. Report this Post to the Staff
merclover Bedrock of the Community United States 10635 Posts	Posted 10/25/2021 3:19 pm I agree, you can see the zinc rot starting, so sorry not the copper cent you were looking for. Yes, it is a small date, yes it's from the Denver mint, it's just the wrong material to be the rare copper cent everyone wants to find. Keep searching! Report this Post to the Staff
Coinfrog Bedrock of the Community United States 94367 Posts	Posted 10/25/2021 4:06 pm to the CCF! Report this Post to the Staff
Daves Errors Pillar of the Community United States 1566 Posts	Posted 10/25/2021 4:59 pm To CCF. Can you put the 1982 D Small Date LMC on the scale and get us a closeup shot ? To me it looks like you are showing two different coins. If the coin on the scale IS a 1982 D small Date Copper Coin then you just found a nice chunk of cash for one rare penny. If not Edited by Daves Errors 10/25/2021 5:07 pm Report this Post to the Staff
JimmyD Bedrock of the Community Canada 21616 Posts	Posted 10/25/2021 5:38 pm Daves Errors Read Bumkins post. His scale does not read to decimals so can be out .5 g either way Report this Post to the Staff
Dearborn Moderator United States 96674 Posts	Posted 10/25/2021 9:54 pm Great summary, Bumpkin! you explained it all too well. I'll go sit in the corner and eat popcorn until the new weigh-in is revealed.. Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
Bumpkin Pillar of the Community United States 509 Posts	Posted 10/25/2021 11:01 pm Thank you JimmyD and thank you Dearborn. Report this Post to the Staff
Daves Errors Pillar of the Community United States 1566 Posts	Posted 10/26/2021 12:05 am Ok I guess I am confused on this one sorry. >> Bumpkin said Your current scale is going to read 3 grams regardless if it is a copper or zinc Cent. Please enlighten this simple old mind how it's taking two different weights and is showing the same weight of 3 grams. 2.5 is 2.5 and 3.1 is 3.1 I thought! Edited by Daves Errors 10/26/2021 12:11 am Report this Post to the Staff
Bumpkin Pillar of the Community United States 509 Posts	Posted 10/26/2021 12:10 am Hey Dave. I was referring to the op's scale, in the provided pics, and that the scale only reads out in one full digit and that it does not have the capability to read out in tenths or hundredths. With this being the case, anything put on that scale will round up or down to a solid number. A zincoln will round up from 2.5 grams to a reading of 3 grams..... and a copper Linc will round down from 3.1 grams to a reading 3 grams on this scale. Hopefully this helped clarify things.. Report this Post to the Staff
Daves Errors Pillar of the Community United States 1566 Posts	Posted 10/26/2021 12:22 am So is what you are telling me is this scale is a LIAR. It's telling people you are eating 3 grams of sugar but you are really eating 3.5 and getting fatter every time you use this scale right? Report this Post to the Staff
Bumpkin Pillar of the Community United States 509 Posts	Posted 10/26/2021 12:23 am Quote: It's telling people you are eating 3 grams of sugar but you are really eating 3.5 and getting fatter every time Not to get technical here (but I guess I am.... lol) If you were eating 3.5 grams of sugar the op's scale would show you 4 grams as it would round up from .5 ...... haha! The op said they are getting a scale that reads out further than whole number grams, hopefully in hundredths. We shall wait and see....... Edited by Bumpkin 10/26/2021 12:29 am Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 15 / Views: 1,398

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