1982 Copper vs Zinc Penny

"Veritas" wrote in message
. ..
(Scott Stevenson) wrote:

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.

I used to do this over a bunsen burner in high school chemistry class.

If you cut a small nick in the side of the cent, you can heat it up
until the zinc melts. Squeeze it with tongs, and the zinc pops out
leaving a thin copper shell behind.

Back then, I wondered why this didn't always work properly. Now I
know!



I would like to make a comment about melting Zinc. Since it melts at a
relative low temp, it is easy to overheat
and when overheated it emits toxic fumes. Breath to much and you die.
Simple as that.
Same thing as welding Galvanized pipe, it can kill you too. Galvanized pipe
contains Zinc.
Spent three days sicker that a dog 35 years ago from doing that, Horrible
sweet taste in the mouth that won't go away,
nausea, throwing up, etc. It ain't pleasant.

I have an amateur home foundry, caution is advised.

Dale

On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 18:20:05 -0700, "Bob and Dee"
wrote:

"Barry & Barb" wrote in message ...
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.

You can easily tell by sound. Zinclons clunk when you drop them on the
table or counter, bronze pennies have a nice ringing sound.

Padraic.

Bob

la cieurgeourea provoer mal trasfu
ast meiyoer ke 'l andrext ben trasfu.