Weighing A Penny Without A Scale

you can use a fulcrum style of weighing. (a pivot point under a tongue depressor off center. to detect the differences of the weights.
https://www.lincolncentresource.com...es/1982.html
Scroll down to the 1982 section.

w/ the frog

I have mostly been using a scale like this one which allows easy recalibration as needed with the included weight to reset the weight, from 0.01g to 200g, auto off etc and costs around 16.99, a few colors might be $2 less. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HGWFBTV/

With that said, heres a few other ways:

You can tell zinc pennies from copper pennies by listening for a 'clicking sound' or a 'ringing sound' when you drop them onto a hard surface like a table: A copper penny 'rings.' while a zinc penny 'clicks.'

Look at the color of the penny. You can tell zinc pennies apart from copper pennies by their color when looking at them side by side:
A worn copper penny usually has a chocolate brown appearance or a deep warm, orange hue. A zinc penny typically has more uneven toning, which can often make the surface look somewhat spotted.

Its probably a good idea to grab the scale if your going to be doing it often as weights may help in many areas besides just copper vs zinc lincoln cents. Of course if your Dearborn or the professor stuck on gilligan's island, then perhaps the sticks method will do you fine

Thanks for the stick support John.