USA Cent Find Rates @ 10,000 Coins - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 12 / Views: 2,226
nickelsearcher Moderator United States 15392 Posts	Posted 05/14/2011 9:13 pm Part-time cent roll searcher ... I just completed my 4th box ... 10,000 coins ... and am writing to share my find rates. I'll also make some statistical predictions on the likelihood of finding a copper planchet 1983 cent. Hope that keeps a few of you reading on ..... Important to note as a cent-searcher that I live outside Baltimore, MD .... home to mostly Philly mint cents and prime ground for the Philly varieties. Readers of my occasional nickel find rate threads will recognize my enjoyment in keeping track of my roll searches ... it's just my nature and my initial searches of USA cents is no different. I am searching for recognized varieties ... have on hand several great references ... Cherrypickers 5th Edition, Strike it Rich 3rd Edition, Internet links to Coppercoins site and the Lincoln Cent Resource site. Of course ... the best resource of course is all of you. I admit to hoarding all copper! Sooo ... to the numbers ... at 10,000 cents searched: Overall Find Rates: Copper find rate is 25.66% (found and saved 2,566) Wheatie find rate is 0.37% (found and saved 37). Oldest wheatie is 1925 ... three are from the 1930's and the balance (33 coins) are 1940-1958. Foreign copper find rate is 0.16% (found and saved 16). 14 of these are Canadian copper 1996 and earlier. Also found a KM#104 Ecuador Centavo (2000) and a KM#125 Panama Un Centesimo (1996). Special Coins: I have found two 'special' coins in my first 4 boxes of cents .. 1998 WAM AU55 ... shared a photo with all of you. 1895 IHC with funky PMD ... shared a photo with all of you. Focus on 1982-1983 Cu-Zn Transition: Sooo ... consider the following discussion relative to finding a 1983 Copper planchet LMC ... I keep looking for one! I weigh all my 1982 & 1983 LMC on an accurate scale that has resolution of 0.01 grams. My goal is to address the question of the likelihood of finding a 1983 LMC struck on a Copper planchet. My limited data so far (small sample size) is not encouraging ... First ... none of my 1983 Philly or Denver LMC were struck on copper planchets. I have weighed 251 total 1982 Philly cents and 221 were struck on copper planchets (88.1%). I have weighed 36 total 1982 Denver cents and 30 were struck on copper planchets (83.3%). Sooooo ... if you are still reading ... then follow me on this logic regarding the likelihood of finding a 1983 copper planchet cent ... In 1982 the Philly mint produced 10,712,525,000 cents (thats 10 BILLION+) .... so if my small sample data is correct ... and we believe they stopped copper production before starting zinc production ... and 88.1% are copper ... so there were appx 1,275,000,000 zinc 1982 Philly mint cents struck. I tend to believe that the odds of a copper planchet hanging around after 1.275 Billion coins is quite remote. You can do the same math for the 1982 Denver coins ... 6.02 Billion minted ... 83.3% copper ... approx 1 Billion zinc produced in Denver. I'm having a great time with my cent searches ... taking my time to carefully examine all the coins and truly enjoy reporting to all of you my finds ... Hope someone finds these data and insights helpful. David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art Report this Post to the Staff

AlmostCollectible Valued Member United States 384 Posts	Posted 05/14/2011 9:29 pm I always find this kind of stuff very interesting. Thanks for sharing it with all of us, and good luck on your future rolls! Report this Post to the Staff
Earle42 Bedrock of the Community United States 10034 Posts	Posted 05/14/2011 11:11 pm These stats are great! One of my primary loves in life is research. Thanks for sharing. How much squash could a Sasquatch squash if a Sasquatch would squash squash? Download and read: Grading the graders Costly TPG ineptitude and No FG Kennedy halves https://ln5.sync.com/dl/7ca91bdd0/w...i3b-rbj9fir2 Report this Post to the Staff
RollHunter Pillar of the Community United States 687 Posts	Posted 05/14/2011 11:47 pm You've searched 4 boxes and already found a 98 WAM and an IHC? Better quit nickels and stick with cents! Oh and please keep the stats coming! Report this Post to the Staff
bpoc1 Rest in Peace United States 4078 Posts	Posted 05/15/2011 05:55 am I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who weighs their 1983 LMC and, now seeing the odds I know I'm crazy! I know it makes no sense but, I love cents. Report this Post to the Staff
nickelsearcher Moderator United States 15392 Posts	Posted 05/15/2011 9:43 pm Thanks for the kind replies ... I have come to learn that my statistical posts are not well regarded at the CCF ... I receive very few replies in my efforts to explain the current roll-find environment. No worries I say ... I'll keep searching cents and nickels ... and will post occasional statistical updates as I see fit ... hoping they help a few kindred spirits out there. David Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art Report this Post to the Staff
Scooby Due Pillar of the Community United States 4000 Posts	Posted 05/15/2011 9:53 pm Quote: I have come to learn that my statistical posts are not well regarded at the CCF ... I receive very few replies in my efforts to explain the current roll-find environment. Don't underestimate yourself! You may not get the "replies", but I assure you people are following, reading, digesting and appreciating. I don't post in them often (if at all), but I read it EVERY time you update! That takes a lot of time, effort and dedication and I admire your ability to stay the course. Now, on to the small cents - your strike rate for copper vs zinc on just the 82's is pretty phenomenal. I would have to say my experience has been the exact opposite. For every '82 I throw on the scale, about 1 in 5 are copper. BPOC1, you are definitely not the only one weighing '83's! And if we ever do find one, who's crazy? Report this Post to the Staff
amida17 Pillar of the Community United States 4897 Posts	Posted 05/15/2011 10:11 pm Yeah! Don't stop the stats...I often read your posts and enjoy the info. I, however, am not wired to keep the records you do. Therefore often have nothing to add. Enjoy seeing your numbers though! Report this Post to the Staff
bpoc1 Rest in Peace United States 4078 Posts	Posted 05/16/2011 05:45 am Scooby Due, If I find one and cash in, I will split the $ with you. Your check will be in the mail! Just kidding. Happy hunting. Report this Post to the Staff
copper nickel daddy Pillar of the Community United States 2224 Posts	Posted 05/16/2011 10:20 am Nickelsearcher, I enjoy your technical posts greatly, especially with the nickels (as most of you know I have a soft spot for those!). Also, I have been toying with the idea of doing the same thing with cents that I am doing with nickels, very similar to what you are doing here. Not burned out on nickels yet; just want some variety. I've been through something like 20 boxes of cents the last six weeks, and all I have done is thrown wheats into a box and put aside varieties and coins of interest. I might start a thread; don't know yet. For now I will enjoy yours! Report this Post to the Staff
OneBowl Pillar of the Community United States 759 Posts	Posted 05/16/2011 10:34 am I'm still reading looking for a confidence level. :) Report this Post to the Staff
JayDon62 Valued Member United States 138 Posts	Posted 10/24/2011 4:44 pm Just searched 400 rolls = 20,000 cents. I was only looking for wheaties. I found 85, 1 every 235.29 cents Report this Post to the Staff
Jayman931 Pillar of the Community United States 2651 Posts	Posted 10/24/2011 5:13 pm I have found the easiest way to check the 1983 pennies and 1982 for copper or zinc is to "flip it"....Copper rings along time...zinc rings a second and stops...Its easier to flip it than to turn on your scale..wait to calibrate...etc... Report this Post to the Staff
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