OK, so I'm sort of new at this. I've been focusing on cents, basically because they are relativly cheap to get in bulk, and I'm having a hard time with the size of dates on 1982 cents, along with how to tell what type of metal is used in them. I have a baggie of about 60-70 1982 of various mints, and for some reason, to me, they all look the same. Is that possible? Thanks
to CoinTalk d_lairson. I don't collect them and although I've heard that there are easy ways to tell the large and small dates apart, I don't know what they are. On the other hand, separating the early coppers from the later zincs is super easy. The difference between 3.11g (copper) and 2.5g (copper plated zinc) is significant. If you have a digital scale with sufficient tolerance, just weigh each one. If you have a balance scale, weigh one on each side until you get an imbalance, then leave one on the scale, and put the others on the other side one at a time. If your bathroom scale is the only one in the house, use a popsicle stick (or any small flat piece of wood or plastic) and a pencil to create a balance scale. Balance the stick on the pencil, put a coin on each end, and put the heavy ones in the copper pile and the lighter ones in the zinc pile. Why not? There are literally millions of each type and either through prior sorting or random chance, that small a number could easily be the same type.
another way to tell them apart is testing them with your metal detector, if you have one. on mine, i turn the detector on and turn the discriminator all the way up. if the cent is copper, it will sound a tone. if its zinc, it won't do anything. also, it gives a high tone and reads 10 cents if its copper, and if its zinc it has a medium tone and it says 1 cent. i think this is easier and faster just to do this.:hammer:
I went insane trying to tell the different metals and date sizes apart (easy to do by comparison, but when I had a single one in my hand, I just couldn't tell to save my life). I eventually gave up and for $5 I bought a set that had all the date size, mint mark, and metal types of the 1982 sorted for me, all in BU condition. It was worth it, and now 1982 is nicely filled in my Lincoln cents set.
Here is some info that might help. Hope this helps. And here is a pic of all the varieties together. Good luck on completing the set. I actually go a set of Lincoln cents, 59-82, BU with all the varieties. It is missing some of the S mints, but hey I got it for only a dollar. I thought that was a good deal. Phoenix
OK, here are a few photos I took a while back addressing this same question. I hope these are somewhat useful in telling the large and small dates apart. Large Date: Small Date: Dates Compared (Large/Small): I personally think the easiest way to tell them apart is the difference between the "8." The Large date has what looks like a "fat 8" to me. You can also see the difference in relation to the rim of the coin...the "2" also is has some easy to see differences. I hope that helps a little. :high5: :thumb:
Great photographic explanation by RichieB16. If you need further info on that coin go to coppercoins.com web site. If your new to coins you probably don't have many things such as digital scales so the popsicle stick balanced over the pencil is great. Put a pre 82 coin on one side. If any of your 82's makes the stick balance, it is the copper one. If it just sits there, it is the Zinc one. Of course you could just hit it with a torch and see what is inside.
From looking at the pictures I think I see what's going on. To me it looks like the "size" is more in reference to, for lack of a better description, the fact that one is kind of fat or in a "bold" font and the other has thinner, crisper lettering. Does this seem right? Also that thing with the vest being closer to the rim looks pretty cool.
Thats what it looks like with the naked eye...I have never bothered to do any research or up close measurements to see if the font is actually larger (maybe someone here knows for sure). Also, and this may be wrong, but all the lettering on the obverse of the large date variety appears to have the "larger" or "bold" appearance. However, simply looking for the "bold" date should be enough to identify the two varieties (thats what I have always done).
