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 Replies: 13 / Views: 2,186 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
609 Posts |
Whats the best way to tell the '82 penny varieties?
I've got a baggie full of 82's and need to get each type for my 1959-'08 cent set.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
721 Posts |
Good question. Weight is the easiest to determine copper vs Zincolns. The others I'm still learning. I have a sample set of all the different types in a nice little package that I find very valuable in helping me. I also found the following helpful: http://www.thecentproject.com/sort1982.php |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3077 Posts |
i use the ring test flip them if they ring they are copper
and the small dates the eight looks like a snowman
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Valued Member
United States
103 Posts |
Hambone, I use a tried and true method. Balance the coin on one of your fingers, and GENTLY tap the rim of it with another. If its copper you will hear a clear ring that last for a second or two.......
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Valued Member
United States
103 Posts |
Sorry I posted before I finished, the zinc cents will have more of a thud. By balance I mean on the tip of a finger.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
609 Posts |
Great link drdave! dMAN, your method works perfectly! Because we all love pics...  The small group on the left is zinc. The other is copper. Is zinc less common than copper in your experiences with '82 LMC's? |
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Valued Member
United States
296 Posts |
Quote:Is zinc less common than copper in your experiences with '82 LMC's? Yes, they are. The mint made the change over sometime later in the year. I don't remember exactly when though. The consensus is that approximately 75-80% of the '82s are copper. Back when I was hoarding on a large scale, I was keeping the '82s separate for later sorting. When I got over a $100 worth, I sorted them. I got almost 80% copper. I used a homemade beam balance. Literally from a tongue depressor, some corrugated cardboard and duct tape. I used a piece of metal coat hanger for the fulcrum. Once you get a rhythm going, it is a lot faster than the ring test. |
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Valued Member
United States
337 Posts |
a lot faster and I would imagine a lot more correct using a balance
home make a balance with a flat ruler or tongue depressor, or even a popsicle stick
the snowman analogy is a great way to determine the small date, I usually look at the 8 first
its a lot of fun to search a group of 82's for the different varieties
I saved a cup full before I tried to search them. It took a while but was really fun, and I felt like I was doing more then just pulling wheat pennies or silver, I felt like I was really getting into coin hunting
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
Quote:
The mint made the change over sometime later in the year. And if they had waited to make the change for 1983, we would not be having this conversation right now.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
609 Posts |
Quote:
And if they had waited to make the change for 1983, we would not be having this conversation right now. So true  But it would be bland if you could put a set together without having to learn anything. |
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Moderator
United States
187702 Posts |
I agree.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
used a homemade beam balance. Literally from a tongue depressor, some corrugated cardboard and duct tape. I used a piece of metal coat hanger for the fulcrum. Once you get a rhythm going, it is a lot faster than the ring test.
A little bit excessive though. I just use a popsicle stick, a six sided pencil, drop of glue. Set the pencil on a flat service, balance the stick on it, one drop of glue where they meet and you have a simple balance beam. Always remember to eat the popsicle stuff off first. Quote:
I use the ring test flip them if they ring they are copper
and the small dates the eight looks like a snowman AAHHhhhh yes the best way to dent coins. I wonder how many of your coins now are dented? And too a great way to test you hearing since about half the population couldn't be able to tell the difference. Also, for more info on the differences in the date sizes, check out the Red Book, page 119 or go to https://www.coppercoins.com |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
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The consensus is that approximately 75-80% of the '82s are copper. That does not quite tell the whole story and gives the impression that many more coppers were minted than zincs. The disparity exists because of surviving numbers, not the actual number of coins minted. The planchets used for the first few years of Zincoln mintage were, for lack of a better term, pure junk. Many zinc planchets were contaminated when they were plated with copper which caused the plating to bubble up. Many also had the plating split simply from striking the coin. Quite a large number of them rotted away before Reagan even left office. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3755 Posts |
Easy, find a dealer you trust and buy them already labeled. Thats what I did for my book.
I will have to get a bunch of 82s together and try the home made weight thing though. Great idea, thanks guys. :)
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Replies: 13 / Views: 2,186 |
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Posted 05/21/2011 10:06 pm
