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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,501 |
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Valued Member
United States
433 Posts |
for year 1982 there are 7 different slots and they say like cop. sm. dt. and zn. sm. dt how do I know what one I have
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Moderator
 United States
14463 Posts |
you need to weight them. the coppers should be 3.11 grams, zincs should be 2.5 grams
Edited by Fuzzy317
07/16/2011 01:27 am
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Valued Member
 United States
433 Posts |
o god well I'm screwed then
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Moderator
United States
14463 Posts |
some people say they can hear a difference when dropped or clinked together, but weight is the sure way to tell
EDIT: or you could use a scale and balance to compare known copper or zincs to the coin in question
Edited by Fuzzy317
07/16/2011 01:32 am
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Moderator
United States
14463 Posts |
I went to my local Harbor Freight and picked up a cheap digital scale for about $12
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
Here's a good post on another forum that explains how to tell them apart: http://www.cointalk.com/t55647/You can use a balance or scale for weighing as described above. The large vs. small date is pretty easy once you get them side by side. Small date looks like a snowman with a smaller head than bottom. Large date the top circle of the eight is almost as large as the bottom. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3169 Posts |
I made a scale with a Popsicle stick, works well for me. As you compare small and large dates you'll be able to see the difference easily. The 2 in the dates look different, and after a few you can easily spot with the naked eye.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
543 Posts |
Tunnioc - How did you make the scale?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3169 Posts |
The one I made is very similar to the link above that KenKat posted.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4541 Posts |
i bought one off ebay a while ago. I use mine frequently |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
This too has been on this forum before. Easy to make a cheap balance beam scale. Take any popscile stick, a six sided pencil, drop of glue. Round pencil works to but is harder to keep steady. Balance the stick on the end of the pencil. Add a drop of glue to keep it there. When dried, place a pre 82 cent on one side at the far edge. Now any 82 cent that balances is a Copper one. If nothing happens, it is to light and it is a Zinc one. The reverse is also possible. Place a post 1982 cent on the far end. That is 83 to present. Those are all Zinc ones. now any 1982 Cent placed on the other end will make it drop there if it is the Copper one. Make sure you use a flat surface. Make sure you eat the popscile first also. Ice Cream sticks work also but again you must eat the Ice Cream first.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19930 Posts |
With experience, you'll be able to tell them apart by eye. To make is a little easier, it seems about 70-80% of them are large date copper.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
609 Posts |
I made one like just carl said and it works fine. After a couple boxes of cents you can usually tell if its copper or not by its sound. I can post pics of large and small date if you want.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
609 Posts |
I got pics anyway Both of these pics are from copper cents found while roll searching. Large Date:  Small Date:  Notice the top of the 8 in the large date is about the same size as the bottom. In the small date the top is noticably smaller. Also notice the bottom of the 2 in the large date is blunt at the bottom right point, and in the small date it is sharp. Hope this helps |
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,501 |
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Posted 07/16/2011 01:29 am
