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 Replies: 30 / Views: 2,921 |
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Valued Member
United States
98 Posts |
I purchased this coin off ebay from David Lawrence Rare Coins. Slab says only 1982 D MS67 Rd Easy to see that it was indeed a 1982 cent with the D mintmark. And a quick look at the listing photos confirmed that it was a Small Date variety without a doubt. I bought the coin based on the seller description, since I was impressed by the reputation of David Lawrence Rare Coins, and also reached out after receiving the coin just to confirm (see photos for coin description and communication screenshots). The PCGS slab...I know. But the lack of attributes bothers me. I feel that pre-2016, all 1982 D Small Date cents were assumed zinc since no Denver minted small date copper were believed to exist. Every other slabbed variety from that year attributed date type and composition, and since 2016 slabbed cents include the small date Zinc variety attributions when graded. Aside from my coins, I am not a man of means, I literally used the last little money I had when I purchased this coin (seriously, a 1982 D Small Date Copper MS67 RD...$80 shipped...from a highly reputable seller?) So I am seeking advice because I cannot nearly afford regrading (estimate 1% of value if copper?) When I can't even afford return shipping for a refund if not copper! I'll drive myself crazy though not knowing for sure lol, I just want to crack the slab open and bounce it! My apologies for the long post!        |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
6244 Posts |
By the things you post seem to be an bronze coin and the price is fairly 1/3 of the market. You want more wrote on slab you have to submit to TPG and ask. |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Please tell me why you think it is the rare copper cent? The only way to know if your coin is copper is to remove it from the slab and weight it and test it with an XRF machine. John1  |
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Valued Member
 United States
98 Posts |
I understand this John, and I understand that the odds are far against it being what I would hope. But it is an '82 D Small Date without a doubt. I actually found the coin because I was following another item from the same seller, old shipwreck gold that sold for $175k that had odd gold purity, but I was curious and checked their other listings, one of which I noticed was 1982 D PCGS 67 RD. Seller unless otherwise stated sells the coin pictured, which I noticed was a small date, and as you can see in the description specs screenshot, is listed as 95% copper 5% zinc. Description fields are not auto-filled, sellers choose these options individually. Weight was also added as 3.1g.
I mean, if actual composition and weight of a penny are inaccurate, I feel sorry for whoever bought that gold!
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
6244 Posts |
@Flow: Me I understand you. John ask for weight and it is correct. In order to know you can weight this slab and another one with the bronze coin inside. Like this you will be on the track. You state about the date and put some screen shot for where was I have no Idea. Your photos are a little bit to flow to determine something. I will be glad to see a really exception, but for this moment I can't say nothing. Try better photos please and make the test I say.
Other thing: Me I know 'it David but not his sun, and I do not say how the business go ahead after him pass away.
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Valued Member
United States
98 Posts |
That is overdramatic I know, but I would not have bought the coin from just any seller that posted it, as new as I am to collecting, even I know who they are. If it turns out not to be copper, I know they wouldn't do it intentionally, they average $300k in monthly sales, they don't need my $80 that bad. It would crush my heart, but mistakes get made sometimes. Am I seriously just silly for buying it based on the info and seller reputation? If finding these coins is as inconceivable as seasoned collectors imply whenever newer less experienced collectors optimistically share hopeful finds just to be met with contempt and criticism that somehow gets held back when another new collector wants to pay a small fortune buying up the seasoned guys "unsearched" rolls of 1969 S Lincoln cents. Convenient.
Well I'm tired, thanks for reading, best of luck to all.
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Valued Member
United States
98 Posts |
@Silviosi Thank you, I will see if I can get one similar to compare!
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
I think if you really believe it to be the rare one, ANACS is the least expensive to slab it and make sure to ask them if it is the rare copper one.If it is ask them to put it on the label. Weighing the slab is pretty tricky to get an accurate weight. You would have to have a scale that goes to 0.001 at the least. And you still need to factor in coin Weight Tolerances and slab Weight Tolerances. ANACS is your best bet. IMHO. John1 |
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Valued Member
United States
98 Posts |
@John1, to clarify, I am not saying that you, as a seasoned collector, show contempt or criticize anyone. It has been my observation that you do not engage in that practice. My apologies if it sounded otherwise!
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
All good. John1 |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
I tend to agree with John1 ; Crack it open wait a couple of weeks to save a little money , then send to Anacs . This way it won't haunt you anymore . Make sure you ask them for a full description copper or Zinc as well as lrg. or sml. date.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Heck, just crack it open and weigh it!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5772 Posts |
Before cracking it out, can an XRF analyze the metallic content through the plastic slab?
(I can't tell from the images if there are any zinc bubbles at all on it.)
Words of encouragement are one of the major food groups.
We need to consume them regularly to thrive and grow.
Edited by Petespockets55
04/14/2022 10:11 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
572 Posts |
No need to crack it open. PCGS has already examined the coin and verified it as a copper plated zinc core cent. Notice the numerical code right above the bar code? 3050.67 indicates the coin is PCGS coin 3050, which is their number for the 1982 D Copper plated zinc cent in Red. .67 after that is their grade for the coin. The longer number after the slash, 21661753 is their unique identifier that allows you to verify the coin matches the label. Anyone can enter that number (or scan the bar code) on the PCGS website to verify the coin in this way. If the ebay listing referred to the coin as a copper, rather than a copper plated coin, you may be able to return the coin as "not as described" since clearly the PCGS code identifies the coin as copper plated. I suppose it's possible that PCGS misidentified the coin, in which case you would need to crack it open to verify, but that seems like a stretch. If David Lawrence thought the coin was a genuine 1982 D Small Date Copper coin I doubt they would have listed it for such a low starting price. This looks more like a listing error by the seller than anything else. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2846 Posts |
@Flowme911.... A food scale that weighs in the X.XX grams can be purchased at various retailers for under $20. Buy one, crack open the slab & weigh it.
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Valued Member
United States
98 Posts |
@PetesPockets55 I went over it with a 10x and 30x loupe and find no bubbles or lamination flaws.
My gold guy has an XRF, that is definitely worth checking! Thank you!
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Replies: 30 / Views: 2,921 |
Posted 04/14/2022 04:33 am
