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 Replies: 13 / Views: 2,118 |
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Valued Member
United States
322 Posts |
I just went over my parents Penny jar I brought from Pittsburgh.
I found most Large date, and 4 Small date. I am just about to ask you guys how to find out Copper alloy and Copper plated Zinc? I read about Kitchen Counter theory, I've tried, but I can't hear any different. I thought, it might be all the same alloy, but I drop 1980 and 1984 to hear the difference, I can't. I might done it wrong, or may be the tile counter is not hard enough? Is there any other way I could try?
I might have both of them and in Large and Small. I am hopping.
Please give me a good advise. Thank you.
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Valued Member
United States
335 Posts |
Put them on a scale, if you have one. Zincolns are 2.5 grams, copper cents are 3.1 grams.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1599 Posts |
I too had problems telling the difference. I bought a Fast Weight M-500 scale. It takes the guesswork out and only costs about $10.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4541 Posts |
once you see a bunch of copper pennies you will be able to tell by looking at them. I know this sounds weird but I can tell the difference when I hold it. I used to drop them on wood tables to hear the ring. most of them you find will be copper
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Valued Member
United States
232 Posts |
I don't have a link, but I have heard of folks who use an AA battery, a zinc penny and a Popsicle stick to make a little balance. Basically what you do is you glue the stick to the battery so that it looks like a see-saw. Then you want to take one zinc penny and put in one one end (mark where it goes) and glue another zinc penny so that they exactly balance. Then you can put an unknown penny where you put the first zinc one (that is not glued) if it is heavier it is copper, if lighter it is zinc.
This is not a great explanation, but you get the idea. Hopefully someone can post a link to full instructions.
JP
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Valued Member
 United States
322 Posts |
You guys are great, thank you. I never thought about weighing. Yes I have a fine scale. daviscfad, I believe you, I saw a lot of Silver, I can tell right away. But Silver is easy, I grew up in the Silver and Gold trade, my dad was a dealer. Back in Indonesia, if you sell anything with big value, you got to buy something else fast. Otherwise, the money in your hand will devalue so fast. The best is Gold or Silver, because they increase the value. People buy and sell a lot. I think it is what happening here. Most of our old coins looks very good, since nobody use them. The value drop right after it was minted. I still remember when I was a boy, not even a Beggar want it. They threw them away if you gave them.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1915 Posts |
Quote:
I too had problems telling the difference. I bought a Fast Weight M-500 scale. It takes the guesswork out and only costs about $10.
I picked up one of these on Amazon for around $7.50, that included shipping. Can't beat that. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
626 Posts |
The quickest way I've found to tell the difference between copper and zinc is to give the coin a flip in the air with your thumb. If it rings it is copper, zinc will not ring at all. But like daviscfad said, once you have looked at enough of them you can tell just by look and feel.
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Valued Member
United States
450 Posts |
I got a used Digiweigh scale off epay for $6.20 with shipping
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2424 Posts |
ndgoflo I agree! easiest, fastest, cheapest way to go..
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Valued Member
United States
322 Posts |
Thank you for all your responds, I have tried everything.
The best, most dependable is to weigh it. Now that all is cleared, I found out I have all Copper P & D mints large and small date and P mint Zinc, don't have the Zinc 1982D large and small date. I am going to start the Penny rolls hunt.
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Valued Member
United States
322 Posts |
I bought a box of $ 25.- Pennies. I found 1982P small date 1982dD small date, but no 1982D large date.
I also get 1957D in (almost) UNC in bright red. I said almost, since it has a finger print on reverse. It is a big surprise for me. I completed my Penny collection AU until 1950, F until 1937, except 1940, 1948S and small dates 1960P&D, 1970S, large date 1982D. I may go one more round to get the small and large dates, but not hoping much to get beyond 1937 from roll hunting.
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Valued Member
United States
161 Posts |
Try dropping known copper and zinc cents on different surfaces besides the kitchen counter. Try wood or tile or something. I use my wooden desk and the sound is very different.
/Just adding another opinion to a long list.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
581 Posts |
Try the flipping method. I beleive I read it here on this forum.
If you flip the penny, a copper penny will sing to you.
The zinc will be silent.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 2,118 |
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Posted 06/15/2010 8:50 pm
