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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,212 |
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
Edited by Basbye26
09/01/2023 12:01 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
We'll need pics to confirm.  to the CCF! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
It's only the 1982-D small date copper that is rare. As far as identifying them, I use the gap between the 2 and the rim. On the small date, the width of the bottom of the 2 easily would fit in the gap, and on the large date, the gap to the rim is clearly narrower than the width of the 2. The diagonal of the small date 2 is also curved. Then you also need to determine whether the composition is copper or copper-plated zinc. There's really no difference in value between all these iterations until you get into high MS grades, except for the 1982-D copper. You'd have a better chance getting struck by lightning than finding one of those - there are only two known.  Edit: You just posted your image. You appear to have a small date and I'd be 99.99999% sure it's zinc. Edited by kbbpll
09/01/2023 12:01 pm
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New Member
 United States
5 Posts |
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
Yes when I drop it to the ground it does not "ring" which my understanding means it's not copper. Someone again correct me if I am wrong!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
Yes you can hear the difference in tone between copper and zinc. (I don't recommend dropping or "ping testing" coins as a habit though). I taught my kid this when he was 13 and he could tell with amazing accuracy after a short lesson. To be certain you'd have to weigh them - copper is 3.11 grams and zinc is 2.5. Also especially the early zinc ones are prone to having plating bubbles which is another giveaway.
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Moderator
 United States
187582 Posts |
to the Community! Your post was moved to the appropriate forum for the proper attention.  |
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
Thank you Buck! I will learn hopefully shortly! Now I might be asking to much.... but 1982 copper no mint. Is this rare? I'm seeing it listed for up to $2500 (listed, but not sold.) I was born in 1982, hence why I have a lot of pennies from this year. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3237 Posts |
No, 99.99% of the time, if you see a coin selling for some high price as " no mint mark" it's a scam. There are a small number of coins where the lack of a mint mark makes it collectible (like 1922 plain cents, 1982 no mint mark dimes, etc.), but usually no mint mark just means Philadelphia. The only 1982 variety that's rare is the 1982-D small date copper. All other combinations are worth face (or copper melt). |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1259 Posts |
Looks like zinc showing about the D in God.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
A 1982 large date bronze (copper) would have to be MS68 or above to even think about asking $2500. So that depends on condition. Look at a price guide, for example https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide...s/cents/100/ and see that none of the 7 findable iterations of these are all that valuable or different in value until you get into very high gem grades. Collecting all 7 is certainly fun though. Just a nitpick, experienced collectors don't refer to anything as "no mint." Not having a mint mark just means it was minted in Philadelphia. I'm not sure where all this " no mint" stuff came from but I suspect some of these "get rich from pocket change" things have led people to think it's somehow significant. Saying it doesn't convey anything meaningful. |
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New Member
United States
5 Posts |
Thank you Kbball again. And just so you know, lesson learned. I just dropped my 82 copper penny to here if it was copper and I was delighted to here that it was! And then it fell into the floor duct :(
Weight machine search in full force.
Edited by Basbye26
09/01/2023 1:19 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73628 Posts |
Normal Small Date Cent.
Errers and Varietys.
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Moderator
United States
94728 Posts |
the small date cent looks like a zinc cent (judging by the appearance of zinc at the rim above the D in God.)
Edit to add: Zinc small date cents are not the rare ones we all hope to find someday.
Edited by Dearborn
09/01/2023 9:15 pm
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,212 |
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Posted 09/01/2023 11:57 am
