1944 Wheat Penny (No Copper Ding)

I have a 1944 Wheat Penny with no mint mark. I also have a few hundred other Wheat Pennies and when I drop them on the floor/counter, they make a high pitched ding which lets me know they're copper. However when I drop the 1944 wheat penny, it doesn't do that. I have about 2 others as well, A 1952 D and one other which I can't remember the date that don't ding either. They look like a normal wheat penny.
Also, I know they're not steel because they don't stick to a magnet.
Any Info on them would be greatly appreciated!

 

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Sometimes a coin "just don't ding". Welcome to CT!

 

Thanks for the info!

 

There may be an internal planchet flaw, perhaps a small separation or poor alloy. I sometimes suspect that few or no "shell casings" were actually used in the 1944 Lincoln coins as claimed, but if it was, I could imagine some contaminants. Like a bronze bell with an internal defect, the sound is not as usual. I have never felt that any ring test was totally accurate.

Welcome to the forum!

Jim

 

Welcome, and acoustics can be a funny thing.

 

I like this guy, he can be sarcastic right back. Bravo. Now, consider that the cent coin has a mass of 3.11 g while the modern zinc centers have a mass of 2.5 g. Getting the mass of your cents will go a long ways in determining what they are. What? You don't have a scale that measures that well? Go to a coin dealer, jeweler, or if you have a college or university in your area, the friendly people in the chemistry department would be happy to weigh it for you. Good luck.

 

"dumb coin"

You apparently have a dumb coin.

This link describes "dumb coin". Yes, it is a numismatic term used in some circles.
http://numismaster.com/ta/numis/Article.jsp?ArticleId=6556

 

Great article. As another "ring" test, hold any large silver coin between the thumb and first finger with the fingers on the face and back (of course only with lower grade coins) and blow sharply on the edge of the coin. Silver will sing nicely. "Silver Bells, Silver Bells"

 

Unless it has an inner flaw that would interfere with that ring.

 

Then you hear the "Grinch" song.

 

Sung by which famous horror star?

 

Too large to post I guess I will have to convert it.

 

Thanks for this article. I've come across a few "dumb coins" and didn't know what they were.

 

I have always found there are a lot more "dumb collectors" than "dumb coins", but maybe its just ME who is the Grinch.

 

I agree. Especially us newbies.

And what's wrong with being a grinch? My nickname at work is Morticia...

 

I would classify a "dumb collector" as someone NOT on coin talk or similar asking advice and trying to learn. I never call anyone dumb who is wanting to learn. We all started out where you are today.

 

I didn't think you were calling me dumb ;P But I only got into this because of where I work and have had a lot of people come in to sell me coins not knowing what they had. Like a 1936D quarter he wanted to sell at melt...

 

That person may not have been a collector. Certainly not dumb, but definitely ignorant.

 

Misinformed actually. But when he made his appointment with me it was to sell his "collection" of silver coins.