1982 Copper vs Zinc Penny

Hi,
Can anyone tell me how to tell the difference between Zinc and Copper
pennies?
TIA
Barry Schell

One way to tell is by the date. 1981 and prior years are copper. 1983 and future years are zinc. But I'll bet you mean how to tell the difference with 1982 pennies.

The only way to tell is by weight. The copper weighs about 3.11 grams and the zinc weighs about 2.5 grams. You need a very sensitive scale to measure these.

Bob
"Barry & Barb" wrote in message ...
Hi,
Can anyone tell me how to tell the difference between Zinc and Copper
pennies?
TIA
Barry Schell




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Bob and Dee wrote:
Can anyone tell me how to tell the difference between Zinc and
Copper pennies?

The only way to tell is by weight. The copper weighs about 3.11 grams
and the zinc weighs about 2.5 grams. You need a very sensitive scale
to measure these.

Not at all -- you can do it with a pencil and a popsicle stick.

--
Bob

On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 19:41:53 -0700, "Bob Flaminio"
wrote:

Bob and Dee wrote:
Can anyone tell me how to tell the difference between Zinc and
Copper pennies?

The only way to tell is by weight. The copper weighs about 3.11 grams
and the zinc weighs about 2.5 grams. You need a very sensitive scale
to measure these.

Not at all -- you can do it with a pencil and a popsicle stick.

They also make different sounds when dropped on a hard surface.

"Phil DeMayo" wrote in message
news:1130471413.841fef97e10692372107a14b4d4048ec@t eranews...
On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 19:41:53 -0700, "Bob Flaminio"
wrote:

Bob and Dee wrote:
Can anyone tell me how to tell the difference between Zinc and
Copper pennies?

The only way to tell is by weight. The copper weighs about 3.11 grams
and the zinc weighs about 2.5 grams. You need a very sensitive scale
to measure these.

Not at all -- you can do it with a pencil and a popsicle stick.

They also make different sounds when dropped on a hard surface.


Zinc will melt at 787 degrees F but copper melts at 1981 degrees F

Dale ;-)

On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 23:00:54 -0500, "Dale Hallmark"
wrote:


"Phil DeMayo" wrote in message
news:1130471413.841fef97e10692372107a14b4d4048ec@ teranews...
On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 19:41:53 -0700, "Bob Flaminio"
wrote:

Bob and Dee wrote:
Can anyone tell me how to tell the difference between Zinc and
Copper pennies?

The only way to tell is by weight. The copper weighs about 3.11 grams
and the zinc weighs about 2.5 grams. You need a very sensitive scale
to measure these.

Not at all -- you can do it with a pencil and a popsicle stick.

They also make different sounds when dropped on a hard surface.


Zinc will melt at 787 degrees F but copper melts at 1981 degrees F

Dale ;-)


If you cut them in half the zinc ones won't have copper inside ;-)

On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 23:00:54 -0500, "Dale Hallmark"
wrote:


"Phil DeMayo" wrote in message
news:1130471413.841fef97e10692372107a14b4d4048ec@ teranews...
On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 19:41:53 -0700, "Bob Flaminio"
wrote:

Bob and Dee wrote:
Can anyone tell me how to tell the difference between Zinc and
Copper pennies?

The only way to tell is by weight. The copper weighs about 3.11 grams
and the zinc weighs about 2.5 grams. You need a very sensitive scale
to measure these.

Not at all -- you can do it with a pencil and a popsicle stick.

They also make different sounds when dropped on a hard surface.


Zinc will melt at 787 degrees F but copper melts at 1981 degrees F

Hmmm--I wonder what would happen if you heated a Zlincoln above the
melting point of the zinc, but below the melting point of the copper
coating.

take care,
Scott

You can flick (ping) the coin in the air. Hitting it
with your thumb nail. As it spins the copper will
have a ring to it the zinc will go thud!


"Bob Flaminio" wrote in message
...
Bob and Dee wrote:
Can anyone tell me how to tell the difference between Zinc and
Copper pennies?

The only way to tell is by weight. The copper weighs about 3.11 grams
and the zinc weighs about 2.5 grams. You need a very sensitive scale
to measure these.

Not at all -- you can do it with a pencil and a popsicle stick.

--
Bob

Bob Flaminio wrote:

Bob and Dee wrote:
Can anyone tell me how to tell the difference between Zinc and
Copper pennies?

The only way to tell is by weight. The copper weighs about 3.11 grams
and the zinc weighs about 2.5 grams. You need a very sensitive scale
to measure these.

Not at all -- you can do it with a pencil and a popsicle stick.

--
Bob

Yes, indeed. IMO, a half gram is not an unsubstantial difference.
Having handled a bajillion one cent coins in my roll searches, I can
tell the difference between Zincolns and copper cents by balancing the
piece on my fingertip. Thickness is another indicator, as is
appearance. If you examine enough of them, separating the 1982's
becomes pretty easy.

Alan
'penny inspector'

That works if you own any unchewed pencils and popsicle sticks. My
reference to a sensitive scale was that you couldn't use your bathroom
scale. You need a scale that weighs in grams.

The comments about hearing the difference is fine, unless you've got bad
hearing, like I do.

The would-be chemists in this group scare me just a little.

Bob (the other one)

"Bob Flaminio" wrote in message
...
Bob and Dee wrote:
Can anyone tell me how to tell the difference between Zinc and
Copper pennies?

The only way to tell is by weight. The copper weighs about 3.11 grams
and the zinc weighs about 2.5 grams. You need a very sensitive scale
to measure these.

Not at all -- you can do it with a pencil and a popsicle stick.

--
Bob