1982 small Date pennies

I have a bunch of 1982 small date pennies. I need a scale to weight them to determine the brass and zinc. Any recommendations on scales? Best bang for the buck?

 

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You could get a scale, which some say is the easiest. For that I would try http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/. I got a pretty nice one off there and they have one for every price range. Just make sure you get one that measures to .01 grams or better.

This is the one I've gpt, and I've been happy with it so far: http://www.oldwillknottscales.com/proscale-lc50.aspx

If all you are doing is seperating copper from zinc I will also suggest a very simple and spot on method. Balance the coin in question lightly on the very tip of your finger. Then Gently tap the edge of the coin with another coin. If the cent is copper it will have a very bright and distinct ring. It's impossible to miss the ring. It will last around a whole second or more so it is very distinct. Doing the same thing, a zinc one will just kind of "tap" with no ring whatsoever. It is very easy to tell the difference this way, and it's free.

A scale is definately not a bad idea to have though. IMO

 

Thanks EvilKidsMeal. I Will give that a try and post my results.

 

And please don't think I'm steering you away from a scale. You may find it to be extremely useful in the future, especially if you buy alot and want to check for counterfeits (which hopefully you never come across). But if you were kind of undecided about a scale, I posted that little test because it's cheaper (and easier IMO) if you really didn't want to get a scale. Good Luck either way!

 

Anothe cheap meathod of checking a LOT of 82 Lincolns requires a pencil, a popsicle stick, a thumb tack and two copper cents. Secure one cent to one end of the popsicle stick with tape or glue. Balance the popsicle stick ovet the pencil so that when the other copper cent is rested on the other end of the popsicle the "balance' tips and bareely lifts the secured cent off the table top. Stick the thumb tack through the popsicle stick and into the pencil. A copper 82 will cause the balance to move, a Zincoln will not.

 

so far (1) 1982 small date zinc (1) 1982 D small date zinc and (1) 1982 D small date brass
I can seem to find the rest of my 1982 small dates. arrrrghhh. By the way your method works like a charm!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks again.

 

Thats pretty clever. I will try that just to see the outcome. Thanks.

 

A lot of time I can just look at the coin and tell if it's plated. The biggest give away are pimples on the '82 Zincolns...

 

I bought a good (so far) scale from the Bay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200466694887

Shipping is a tad more than what I initially paid (and I'm sure they're making some profit purely on the pricing in pounds sterling), but it's still a decent scale for under (I think) $10.

 

I also got a 1000 gram scale from China through eBay. I paid about $8 with free shipping. I initially checked it against a Morgan and it came in at the exact number of grains. It check coins accurately in ounces, troy ounces grams, etc. I think there are 6 modes or something like that. Economical and accurate for postage, etc. as well as coins.

 

D-man - the best and cheapest method i use is the drop test on a hard desk. I'm surprised no one has mentioned this ? a thud sound is a zinc and a ring sound is copper. Usually i can tell by looking but it takes awhile to know what to look for.

Plus, there is a total of 3 small date 82's ...... 82 P CU , 82 P zinc , 82 D zinc and you mentioned you have a 82 D CU small date. now that would be a rare piece. I'm not saying they dont exsist but that would make some news because i never heard of one.

has anyone ever seen or heard of a 82 D small date CU ???

Snowman

 

Sound or just looking closely is the best method. I can pick tell them apart just by looking 99% of the time. I might also add that the small date coppers are more scarce, almost all the small dates are zinc.

 

The method I mentioned does the same thing, but with no possible damage. Plus the copper is able to ring longer, incase there is any doubt.

 

Nope. I only know of 7 varieties of the 82 cent. 4- large dates, the P & D. 2- copper and 2 zinc.

3 - small dates. The P & D zinc. Then only the 82 P in copper. No small date D in copper was supposed to have been minted.

I guess there could be an error, but it would be akin to the 43 copper. Except some of those are known, while the 82 isn't. With the better controls the mint had in 82, I think I would suspect an 82 D small date in copper to be fake. IMHO

I use a small digital scale to weigh them. Bought it on eBay for about $7, free shipping. It's got 6 modes. I initially checked it with a Morgan and it was accurate using grains, ounces and grams. It is up to 1000 grams or just under 2 pounds, so it works for postage and stuff like that. One of the better investments in supplies I ever made. Cost effective and efficient.

gary

 

well, you guys would know better than I would. I may be confused here, but the 82 P (no MM) thuds when struck lighly. I do have a lot of 82 D's that ring.

 

I thought that meant it was zinc. Am I correct there?

 

Sorry I stand corrected its an 82 D big date.

 

The 82 D small date zinc is scarce right?

 

for the 1982 denver minted pennies

the large date CU is the most common and the other 2 small & large dates ZN are the least common

if i remember right from NGC's David Lange article on 82 pennies that the large date CU was minted most of year up until Oct/82 or Nov 82 and represent about 80-85% of the years production......
then the mint switched production to the zinc pennies to produce the large date and small date zinc for the rest of the year

Hope this helps ..... Snowman

 

here is a link about 1982 pennies from my favorite Lincoln penny web site

http://www.lincolncentresource.com/smalldates/1982.html