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 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,200 |
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New Member
Puerto Rico
7 Posts |
Hello folks: I have been a treasure hunter since 1982 with White's and Garrett's metal detectors. Ever since the introduction of the zink memorial pennys. I felt this new composition for this coin would bring trouble, as the coins started to get lost at beaches and dirt ground the coins years after would not hold the inclaments of salt water beaches or acid soils.I like to find variety in my coin hunting forrays it was only recently I dug in a local school 7 zinks all rotted up and no longer in condition to circulate.Not to mention the ones recovered at the beach that look like white salted sunflower seeds. I am sure many hunters like I would like the U.S. mint to know we would like a more resistent component in their makeing.I know copper is too costly to consider it's return, I was told that maybe reinforced aluminum could meet the challenge of ground conditions and stay intact for long amounts of time lost until we treasure hunters could come to their aid. We americans are a proud country for our quality stuff please be carefull in this issue we don't want to give a bad impresion. Hope to have many join me in my projection and give enlightment in this subject. Thanks Lizard Prince.
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Valued Member
United States
447 Posts |
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memorial pennys a failure I beg to differ with this statement.  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
3039 Posts |
The zinC cent has been around for 27 years now. A little too late to worry about environmental damage to those coins now.
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Moderator
 United States
187950 Posts |
 to the Community! I share you feeling about the "Zincoln" Cent in that they just do not hold up like the old bronze version. However, I agree with Numismo, it is a little too late. I feel that the one cent coin will probably cease production before it will change composition. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2541 Posts |
The mint must already know about the horrible rate of attrition with pennies Cents  . People don't even pick them up. They just kick them in drains and throw them in the garbage these days. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
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...we would like a more resistant component in their making.I know copper is too costly to consider it's return, I was told that maybe reinforced aluminum  The current composition was a big mistake that simply will not endure the decades like the bronze cents, especially in environmental conditions as you describe. I think an aluminum-bronze composition would be a good compromise, although it won't have the "traditional" copper color. But the days of bronze coinage are over, after all. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
615 Posts |
Look at it this way..
After the mass melting of the bronze cents which will occur and the zinc cents getting the same treatment (melting or rotting)... the high quality examples are going to be prized.
-SFWUSC
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2520 Posts |
I agree the zinc composition is garbage. But I also agree that they will probably stop production of circulating cents (if you can call them that) rather than trying a new composition. Some of the boxes I've gotten at the bank lately have been unbelievably cruddy and corroded. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
Welcome to CC!
I for one am glad we are losing mass numbers to attrition. Hopefully, someday, my ultra-high grade Memorial collection will be appreciated for what it is.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Moderator
United States
187950 Posts |
BadThad, your ultra-high grade Memorial collection is already appreciated for what it is... an incredible work of art!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
632 Posts |
I always think its funny whenever this topic is brought up (and its been brought up countless times before) that some people seem to take the composistion of the cent personally. There are billions of cents minted every year so there are plenty to go around. Just because the new composition (new meaning 27 years old) doesn't compare with the old composistion some people think thats some sort of horrible crime. Its a cent! Half of the people on this forum want the mint to stop making them anyways. Its not like having cents that erode away when burried underground or dropped at the beach is some sort of abomination. If I was burried underground for five years before being dug up again I would probably be pretty moldy to. Heck, mistreat anything, let alone a tiny little coin, and its going to degrade somehow.
Why is it so bad that our cents are made to serve the practical purpose of being a cent?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2520 Posts |
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always think its funny whenever this topic is brought up (and its been brought up countless times before) that some people seem to take the composistion of the cent personally. In case it wasn't noticed Lizard Prince is a new member and this was his first post! I doubt he read through all the other posts in this forum before starting this one. As for the rest of us, we are entitled to our opinions as we are all Americans living in the land of Freedom of Speech! lizard Prince |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2734 Posts |
Welcome, Lizard Prince! There are a bunch of other threads on this forum about the excitement surrounding the 2009 Log Cabin Cents. Some think that saving BU 2009 Cents is like saving BU State Quarters ('pointless', 'they'll only be worth face value'), but I would beg to differ. The reason why: Zinc Cents hold up poorly in circulation, never mind in the ground! I've already found two Log Cabin Cents that were down to AU condition, just from a month or two of circulation. I was carrying a 2009 (P) Log Cabin Cent in my pocket, and it developed spotting in just a month. And it was in a vinyl flip the whole time! The Mint had the right idea with the 1974 Aluminum Cent, and not just for 'durability'. Small children and dogs have been poisoned by swallowing Zinc Cents.  Edited by DNA
05/16/2009 11:41 am
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Valued Member
United States
462 Posts |
It has been said that a Plastic Water Bottle would last FOREVER in a landfill. Maybe the US Mint should start making one cent coins out of plastic!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2520 Posts |
I had the same idea! A plastic cent! Would last longer than Zinc. Unfortunately I don't think it would work and wouldn't do much for the metal detector enthusiasts.
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New Member
 Puerto Rico
7 Posts |
Thanks ratman for defending my newbie status and I apologize for any missconception in my post.I see.. there was others that beat my punch line hmmm...about plastic cents I don't mind plastic mixed in with let's say aluminum.Or plastic coat them that way I can find them.So DNA poisoned people by a zinc Wow! That means more reason to have this dumb mixure eradicated.Finding this Log cabin cent design made me curious to save one.I once sold in a coin shop in Plaza las America shopping center a 1972 double die for $40 if the last dummy who had the coin hadn't mutilated the cent with a hole I would have got $60 and new uncirculated $200.00 I sold it in a time of great need after that I got the need to seek and inspect all 1972 cents.
Edited by Lizard Prince
05/16/2009 10:18 pm
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Replies: 17 / Views: 2,200 |
Posted 05/15/2009 1:58 pm
