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 Replies: 29 / Views: 7,452 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10635 Posts |
Is there an easy way to tell while I'm searching bank rolls if my 1982 pennies are copper or zinc? I know the copper version is a little heavier than the zinc, but without a scale nearby, is there a way to visually tell the difference?  Thanks, Les |
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Rest in Peace
United States
3039 Posts |
As I've posted b4, make a simple see-saw balance. with a popsicle stick. Put a known copper cent on one end and the unknown coin on the other. Center the stick on a pencil or other thin object. If the unkown cent is a zincoln, the copper cent side will drop lower than the other. If the stick balances, the unknown is copper. You'll get the hang of it. NOTE-much easier with an inexpensive scale. Copper 3.1gms, Zn 2.6 gms.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1903 Posts |
Weighing or electronically measuring ( like a metal detector does) are the only sure fire ways. Some people "bounce" them off a hard surface listening for the "ping" of a copper cent vs. the dead thud of zinc. Google " popsicle scale for cents and it will show you how to make a simple balance for seperating copper vs zinc cents
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Handle enough of them and you will be able to see the difference between the two quite easily. As mentioned, they can be distinguished by sound as well.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
927 Posts |
I love the popsicle stick idea. Wish I would have thought of that when I was roll searching cents. But I bought a small scale instead. I could not tell the difference when bouncing them off a table. They all sound the same to me. I did a better job holding one in each hand and seeing which was heavier. Still a guess though.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
764 Posts |
quickest way I know of is to flip the coin in the air. if it rings, its copper. test known copper and known zinc cents first so you can tell hte difference between the sounds.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10635 Posts |
Quote:
quickest way I know of is to flip the coin in the air. I thought sure your next line was going to be "and if it's heads it's copper and if it's tails it's zinc." LOL Thanks for the replies everyone! Les |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3276 Posts |
Quote:
Handle enough of them and you will be able to see the difference between the two quite easily. As mentioned, they can be distinguished by sound as well. Haha, my sister had 6 from 1982 today, and I told her I would tell the difference without touching them. I looked at the 6 and told her to put 2 in one pile and 4 in the other. I was right, the two were copper and the others were zinc. Handle enough and you can tell by sight. Anyways I just use the sound test. I like to bounce it on the desk, and obvious ring means its copper and a thud means it's zinc. Try and you'll be able to tell. If you don't want a ton of dents on your wood desk like mine, hahaha, then just flip it in the air with your finger, you should hear a ring from coppers when your fingernail flicks the coin. |
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
I use the sound test by dropping them on the table. After awhile you will learn the sound differences and it will become very easy for you to tell copper from zinc. John1  |
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Valued Member
United States
466 Posts |
I use the popsicle stick Idea. It is pretty fun and easy as well.
I did a check of a lot of 1982 coins when my little brother slept over at my place the night before a coin show. He had a blast. The 1982 coins are pretty easy to see the difference in varieties so he had fun looking for the different metal varieties and date size varieties that night. We used the balance method and a basic hand magnifying glass
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12816 Posts |
Sound test here too. It's quite a difference and after a few bounces, it becomes obvious which is which. And to me that's faster than the popsicle stick test, especially when sorting through thousands of cents.
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
What people will do to avoid spending ten bucks on a scale they can use for other stuff, too.
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Valued Member
Canada
235 Posts |
OK, I had no idea that there were two varieties....what are the value of these metal varieties?
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
about 3ยข and face, copper being more.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
As previosly mentioned, the flip test works the best. You are generally not supposed to handle coins like that, but 98% of all '82s out there are just circulated junk.
As far as rarity goes, zinc is far more rare, and small dates are slightly less common than large dates. Copper is worth more if circulated, while zinc is worth slightly more if uncirculated.
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Rest in Peace
United States
3039 Posts |
Actually hopping rabbit, there are 7 basic varieties minted as well as ddos & ddrs.
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Replies: 29 / Views: 7,452 |
Posted 09/10/2011 12:27 am
