I started roll searching about a month ago. I have found an 1863 civil war token, (Our Army), a 1909, and a few other wheats here and there. I'm finding it very relaxing and I'm getting faster and faster. I know, I know, many think copper hoarding is kinda silly but I figure if I'm going to sit and search I"ll just save the copper too. My question is how do I tell the difference between the 82 copper and 82 zinc? I'm coming across quite a few and have been throwing all 82's in the return bucket. Thanks in advance!
Do you have scales to weigh them? Copper plated zinc cents weigh 2.5 grams, and the copper cents 3.11 grams...
Most '82s are copper. Drop them on a hard surface and listen to the difference in sound. a copper '82 will ring like a bell and a zinc '82 will sound dull.
You can build yourself a little scale if you don't have a digital one. Just get a popsicle stick to ballance on another one. Then take two equal weighted items (like two pre-1982 copper cents), and find the ballancing point on the other stick. Then glue them at that point. Now you will have a poor man's cent sorter.
Agree with the others that weighing is the best method. I've gotten to the point that I can usually pick out the copper just by the way they look. I still weigh them though to be sure.
You better keep that one.. it will be the last civil war token you find while roll searching.... Nice find!
Thanks for all the replies! I'll probably try them all, even the K'nex. Yes the civil war token was by far my coolest find, it must have been sitting in someones change jar for a few years I would imagine. If I had a camera I'd post a pic. Thanks Again!
Awesome find on the civil war token!! That definitely one ups an Indian cent find IMO. I use the popsicle stick method as well. It has all the basic requirements for me: fast, cheap and easy. Good luck on your searches!!
I took a desk ruler and taped a round pencil right in the center to make a minature see-saw. Then using an earlier cent for a balance weight (I taped it on one end) I could put an unknown cent on the other end of the ruler. If it moved, it was copper. If not, then zinc of course. I finally bought a scale on eBay for $7 free shipping that is really accurate and use that now. Being hard of hearing, I never trusted my ears to pick up the sound of them. gary
I'm gonna try the homemade scales first, I'm sure if I really get crazy searching I'll get a scale. I'm doing a box to a box and a half a week right now.
I flick them in the air. If they ring, they are copper. If they don't make any sound, they are zinc. Sometimes you can tell by the color or toning of the coin too. When the zincs get circulated they tone differently than the old coppers.
