I have already learned so much about coins and feel like I have yet a whole lot more to learn! I remember a while back about a 2001 D penny mishap on a highway or something and was wondering about whether any I have should be kept? And I believe I have a 1982 large dated penny with no mint mark...any comments will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
I don't know anything about a highway mishap but the 82 is a large Philly. Would need to be weighed to see if copper or zinc.
MJ, You should buy yourself a Red Book. It can answer questions like this and many, many, many others.
Copper pennies weigh about 3 grams, zincolns weigh about 2 grams. An easy test is to use a Popsicle stick (or a ruler) as a balance and then place a penny that is 1981 or older (all pre-82 are copper) on one and then place the 82 on the other side. If it tilts alot then it is zinc-copper, if it stays the same or tilts just a little bit, it is copper. Or you could use a scale.
The 82 you might have a case for, but non the less it's only worth a buck in ms-65 regardless of small or large date... I would spend it.
Okay. Good stuff guys! These pennies are headed back to the spending jar. I live in Alaska in a very small village way, way up north so its kind of hard to get books and such here. I have placed an order and am waiting for them to arrive though
Red book is a good start, but if you plan on grading very many varieties i like coin values "making the grade" Pricey at $40 but well worth it!
I have looked at that book and it is on my 'To Buy' list. It looks like it would be great to help look for wear on sliders/MS coins that you are not very familiar with. I can see that book paying for itself on one purchase.
It's paid for it's self over and over for me! Before i had it i would buy from auctions online, and would get burnrd almost everytime, now that i have it, i make about 1/4 of the purchases i make now at the auctions, and the ones i purchase i steal for a great price! Very good book IMO!
Well, I've ordered books and checked my '82 penny coins and 3 out of the five I originally had are copper ones.
I have a small scale that I bought on ebay for $10 (including shipping). It works quite well. I'm finding that most of the 82 coins are copper. It may be my luck but I'm having a harder time find Zincolns from 82.
Cents from Philadelphia don't have mint marks. That is just the norm for them. Appears the 1982 maybe a large date copper. If it was from this die it would be valuable: http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/coop49/1982P-1DO-002___Regular.jpg
