1982 1c Lincoln cent

Discussion in 'Error Coins' started by Trella Davis, Aug 23, 2019.

  1. Trella Davis

    Trella Davis Bellathescorkie

    20190823_203839.jpg Can anybody explain why this penny only weighs 2.9?
     
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  3. eric6794

    eric6794 Well-Known Member

    Could be any number of reasons but 2.9 is within mint tolerance for a copper cent. Would help if you posted a full pic of both sides of the coin though.
     
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  4. Kasia

    Kasia Got my learning hat on

    Within tolerance
     
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2019
  5. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

    Because it's a Copper Plated Zinc cent.. Just a bit heavier than normal. Within tolerance.
     
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  6. Trella Davis

    Trella Davis Bellathescorkie


    20190823_213048.jpg 20190823_213155.jpg
     
  7. Michael K

    Michael K Well-Known Member

    Your scale only goes to tenths is one reason.
    Maybe it's 2.94 or 2.95. Maybe it's calibrated correctly. Did you weigh other
    cents as a control measure?
    37 years of wear and circulation can easily grind off a tenth or more.
    Maybe it's a slightly thinner rolled planchet.
     
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  8. alurid

    alurid Well-Known Member

    This coin is within tolerance of both a copper cent and a copper plated zinc cent?
    can someone post what the tolerances are?
    Its ~.2 grams below copper and ~.4 grams above zinc.
    Which puts it closer to a copper cent.
    The anomaly on the reverse on the 2nd T of STATES make me lean towards a copper plated cent. There looks to be zinc showing through.
     
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  9. Michael K

    Michael K Well-Known Member

    The zinc 2.50g tolerance is 2.40-2.60 +/- 0.10g

    The copper 3.11g is 2.98-3.24 +/- 0.13g
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2019
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  10. Burton Strauss III

    Burton Strauss III Brother can you spare a trime? Supporter

    Zlincon: 2.5 +/- 0.13 - https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/31/5113


    How sure are you of the calibration of the scale? There are two things in play, the accuracy of the scale and the accuracy of the display...

    Most scales are only +/- 10% accurate (esp. the cheap ones), with that, 2.9 could be 2.61 to 3.19

    A display of 2.9 could be from 2.85 to 2.94...

    You can build confidence in the scale by checking a few dozen coins and making sure they are showing the expected value.
     

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  11. Trella Davis

    Trella Davis Bellathescorkie

    I've checked over 100 coins and they read 3.1 or 2.5. I did this coin more then 10 times and it reads 2.9 everytime..
     
  12. Michael K

    Michael K Well-Known Member

    If it's a zinc coin, then it could be a thicker rolled planchet.
    If it's a copper coin, then what I already mentioned.
    They made both types of coins in 1982, it is a transitional year
    as they switched from copper to zinc.
    My guess is that it is a copper coin, since they made a ton of large date
    copper Philly 1982 coins, and the very slight difference in weight adds
    no extra value.
     
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  13. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    It's zinc and in tolerance. It might be a bit off if the planchet was rolled thin or thick but it's normal.
     
  14. Michael K

    Michael K Well-Known Member

    If it's zinc it is nowhere close to tolerance.
    By appearance I would say it is copper.
    And because the weight is closer to 3g, also probably copper.
    And just off the low end of the copper tolerance. Circulation and wear
    most likely lost some of the weight. It's a penny.
     
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  15. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    My mistake-copper
     
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