1982 zinc lincoln penny

A couple of 3 years ago, or so, this machine was at the fun show in Michigan, so I've seen it before in action .....

 

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The 1981 cent should read 95% copper 5% zinc, that is the correct alloy for that year.

1982 comes with two different compositions, 955 Cu 5% Zn like the 1981, and it also comes as pure copper plated over Zinc. You have one of each type. The first one is reading as 95% Cu and 5% Zn. On the second one and the 1983 cent the machine is reading not just the surface but is actually penetrating slightly below it and is reading a significant amount of the subsurface zinc and giving you an overall reading of around 40 - 45% zinc and the balance being Copper. If it was reading just the surface it would read nearly 100% copper.