My Lincoln cent collection ends in 1982, with the exception of the 2009 copper issues. I don't even look at zincs when I see the date it goes in the jar and back to the bank. I've seen zinc cents that were eroding after a year. They break down quick when they get wet.
Yet, oddly enough, people still collect them. I have my share. But nowadays it has gotten almost impossible to find CPZ cents from circulation that are collector quality. I’m mainly talking 1982-1995. You have to look long and hard, do a tremendous amount of CRH as well, to find specimens that have not been ravaged by the many dangers of circulation. About the only way to find them now is from stash piles: jars or boxes stuck in closets or drawers and kept out of circulation for varying amounts of time. Or buying those that have already been preserved by flips, encapsulation or kept safe from oxidation. It is a real challenge to locate collectible survivors from circulation.
A few years back ('21?) I looked for a nice BU zinc of the current date in circulation just as a project. I looked at hundreds of coins from dozens of sources and every single one had ugly spots on it. BU = Bad Uncirculated. I've seen "BU rolls" from the '80's that had nearly as much rust as metal in them. I've looked for a nice '84-P with flat surfaces that was well made by good dies and has no marking or carbon spots for 40 years. I've found "2" of them. Today there are lots of really nice Gem '89-D cents but if you look closely at these (most come from the mint sets) you'll see that the nice crisp strike pulled the copper sheathing right off some of the lettering on the reverse. These coins won't last with the zinc exposed. Some of the copper memorials are a mess too. Take a look at the '68-P; they all have have tarnish and carbon spots.
