1981 and earlier Lincoln pennies were 95% copper and 1983 and later pennies are 97.5% zinc.
In 1982, both zinc and copper were used due to the transition period. A good way to tell the difference is weight. A penny made from copper weighs 3.11 grams and a zinc penny wieghs 2.5 grams. Another way to find out if you don't have a gram scale is what's called the "ring" test. Take a know copper and zinc penny. Drop them on a kitchen counter (a hard formica surface). Zinc has a flat tone, and copper is higher pitched. Once you get a groove on that, start dropping your 1982's.
Also, in 1983, the mint messed up and used copper instead of zinc for some of them. I don't know their value, but I'd assume they are worth a pretty penny :)
I know nothing about the actual "why" except that I know the copper in the penny (-pre 1982-?) is worth almost doulble what the actual penny is now...again I'm not sure if it is only pre 1982 pennies, but I found a link here a couple of months ago about the penny being 'worth a penny" and the copper in it being "worth 1.7 cents" sorry, that's all I got.......I am sooo new to real money....
Peace,
Betsy
Absolutely! And nickels, too.
Check out: http://www.coinflation.co...
http://groups.yahoo.com/g...
thanks howard
thanks howard
:)
:)
1981 and earlier Lincoln
1981 and earlier Lincoln pennies were 95% copper and 1983 and later pennies are 97.5% zinc.
In 1982, both zinc and copper were used due to the transition period. A good way to tell the difference is weight. A penny made from copper weighs 3.11 grams and a zinc penny wieghs 2.5 grams. Another way to find out if you don't have a gram scale is what's called the "ring" test. Take a know copper and zinc penny. Drop them on a kitchen counter (a hard formica surface). Zinc has a flat tone, and copper is higher pitched. Once you get a groove on that, start dropping your 1982's.
Also, in 1983, the mint messed up and used copper instead of zinc for some of them. I don't know their value, but I'd assume they are worth a pretty penny :)
Why not?
Go for it.
___________
Lisa C.
http://www.women4ronpaul....
On another thread
someone commented that $10 face value of the older mostly-copper pennies contains about $26-worth of copper.
I think I read here before that it is, but
I know nothing about the actual "why" except that I know the copper in the penny (-pre 1982-?) is worth almost doulble what the actual penny is now...again I'm not sure if it is only pre 1982 pennies, but I found a link here a couple of months ago about the penny being 'worth a penny" and the copper in it being "worth 1.7 cents" sorry, that's all I got.......I am sooo new to real money....
Peace,
Betsy