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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,558 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Anyone notice how, with a lot of 80s zincolns, when you drop them they sound a lot like copper cents. Does anyone know why? From my experience it's mainly 1983-85 cents, but it could be other dates.
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
Interesting. I have never noticed that myself. I will definitely give this a try though.
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Valued Member
United States
230 Posts |
Depends how you drop them. If you drop them in a certain way, yes. But, if you put your ear real close to the table, no. You can certainly hear the difference- the non coppers sound weak / light if they hit wood in just the right way! The coppers sound as if they have substance.
Same goes for 65 dimes, sometimes they look and sound silver-ish; I think silver pixie dust rubbed off on the 65's. Just imagine all the years they sat side by side with the older silver coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
842 Posts |
I noticed this phenomenon too. When I try and separate my pennies into copper and non copper, the '82's drive me crazy!
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
I am only guessing an expalnation here.
Perhaps the integrity of the plating interface is variable, and perhaps that may have an influence on how the plated coins ring when dropped on a hard surface.
One way to add support to this postulation is to do a test on a batch of maybe 200 Zincolns and tabulate the results.
As I live in Australia, I haven't access to a sufficient number of coins to carry out such a test.
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Moderator
United States
14463 Posts |
Quote:
ancientcoinguy
I noticed this phenomenon too. When I try and separate my pennies into copper and non copper, the '82's drive me crazy! probably its due to 1982 was the transition year. Of the 7 variety business strikes, 3 were copper, 4 were zinc. Edited by Fuzzy317
06/10/2011 11:56 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4778 Posts |
Sel_69I, I was thinking it had to do with the plating as well, and also, because this happens with early zincs, the process by which the planchets were made with the (then) new composition maybe wasn't totally perfected, and so leaving these zincolns with varying plating differences that causes some of them to sound like copper cents. Over the years they probably perfected this process so more recent zincs sound more uniform and not like coppers.
Edited by VisigothKing
06/11/2011 12:39 am
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Valued Member
United States
103 Posts |
Watch for the 83 copper cent, worth a tidy sum. There has been one confirmed that I know of. Jangofett, have you ever tried balancing the cent on the tip of a finger and tapping the rim with another cent. Works just as well and lessens any chance of damaging the coin.
Edited by dMAN
06/13/2011 06:29 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Other factors may be a possibility. 1. Your getting older and your hearing is not what it used to be. 2. Your not dropping them the same. 3. Not dropping them on the same hard service. 4. Your eye sight is fading and your actually dropping cents made in the teens. 5. Quote:
Anyone notice how, with a lot of 80s zincolns, when you drop them they sound a lot like copper cents. Those made in 1980 are Copper. 6. Why are you dropping so many coins? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
No worries dMan, its with common (usually dirty) 80s zinc lincolns that aren't worth much.
Lol no way just carl, I'm too young to be having my hearing go away and my eyesight fade!
And usually if I drop them its by accident, like if I'm roll-searching or something. But then I noticed this sound and started dropping them on purpose to confirm my suspicions.
I know they're zinc cents just kind of strange they sound like copper. Its not like a true copper ringing sound, but it sounds really close. Again, I think it has something to do with the plating.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Oh, and its not with all 80 zincolns I hear this, just a good amount of them.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,558 |
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Posted 06/10/2011 5:37 pm
