Stupid question. How can I tell the difference between the 1982 copper vs zinc Lincoln cents. Organizing a Whitman and have several but can't tell which is which. I didn't realize the new Whitmans had spots for each of these. ANd I need to know how to tell other than weight. My scale weighs grams, but not tenths of grams. One being 2.5g and the other 3.11g Thanks for any help guys/gals!
Your easiest way is probably the drop method. Take a cent from '81 or earlier and drop it on the table. Then take one of your '82 cents and drop it. The copper cent will have the same sound when it hits the table and the zinc cent will sound very different. This is how my dad showed me the change back in '82
I wouldn't try this with high grade uncircs. Another method is to weigh it with a digital scale. The zinc will be significantly lighter.
I think that lots of times, the plated ones have little bubble type marks from the plating process that you can see on the surface.
I have had no luck with the drop test. Weighing them is the way to go. Zinc pennies (cents) are 2.5g and the copper ones are 3.1g. You can make a little popsickle stick scale too. Glue a penny on one side and you can find a pivot point where the scale will tip for copper pennies but not for zinc ones.
i use my metal detector. it has a reading if it is made out of zinc or copper. if you have a detector try this, it works.
i like the popsicle test idea...very inventive. Unfortunately my dig scale only reads to the nearest gram, so 2.5 = 3 and 3.1 = 3. I did try the drop test but then thought I may be hearing what i WANT to hear. know what I mean. Thanks guys for all the ideas!
Yes this is the way I do it without a scale. Use a 10X magnification and you can see obvious bubbles.
You can also buy a 1982 lincoln cent collection for just a few dollars here http://www.smyrnacoin.com/c=SDEFP0eDDpKE9938cWRXTcdvU/product/CENTSET82
The drop test is easy, atleast to my ears. On a hard surface, the copper cents ring, and the zinc ones just kind of go thud. Practice with a 1981 or earlier and a 1983 or later. Of course, I wouldn't do it with any high grade coin, but works fine for pocket change.
Agreat way is to hit the coin with a Butane torch. If it melts easily it was the Zinc one. If the copper coating vanishes, it was the Zinc one. IF you end up with a blob of Copper, it was the Copper one. Actually the balance beam method of a popsicle stick is the most accurate method I have found. Also, by far the cheapest. It could be made of anything really. For example you could use any round object. Place it on a table. Place any flat surfaced object accross it and find the focal point so that is ballances verly well and glue it there. It dosen't have to be perfect because the weight difference is significant. Now place a pre 1982 cent on one side and your 1982 cent on the other side. Now rememeber a few things though. The coins wear should beapproximately the same. The coins will have to be at the same spot on both sides of the stick. If they almost balance, the 82 is Copper. If the pre 82 coin falls flat down, the 82 is the Zinc. Another thing is to contact any chemical supply house and buy a balance beam scale. Or just type in balance beam scale in the internet. There are scientific organizations that sell them cheaply. I still have a few from when I was a kid and had a Gilbert Chem set. I wonder if they are still in buisness.
