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theo
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
588 Posts |
 Posted - 02/07/2009 : 00:40:09
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I've set aside a number of 1982 (copper? Zinc?) Pennies in my sorting. Is there any I can find out which of those coins are copper without buying an expensive scale?
Thanks
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"Hobbies? I got no hobbies! Everything I do; I do for real." The Gold Coast |
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HoardCopperByTheTon
Administrator
USA
6807 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 04:36:04
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Sure, there are several ways.
1. You could buy a cheap scale. Decent smaller digital scales can be purchased between $10 and $25.
2. You could buy a Ryedale. This is the preferred method of many of the penny hoarders here on the board.
3. The flip test. Flip it and listen to the sound.. copper sounds different than zinc.
4. Klunk test. Slap it down on a hard surface. Zinc will make a klunk sound.. copper will have more of a ring.
5. Cut the penny in half with tin snips and look inside.
6. Budget balance scale. You can make your own budget balance scale with a popsicle stick, a pencil, a thumbtack and a zinc penny with a little glue. You stick a tack through a popsicle stick in the center.. tacking it to a pencil. The pencil acts as a fulcrum. You glue a zinc penny to one end of the popsicle stick. When you put a copper penny on the other end it will raise the zinc up as it goes down because it is heavier. If you want to get really fancy, glue a bottle cap on each end. This method is not quite as fast as the Ryedale I recommended above, but it won't cut into your hoarding capital much.  |
If your percentages are low.. just sort more. If your percentages are high.. just sort more.
Now selling Copper pennies. 1.6x plus shipping. Limited amounts available. |
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NotABigDeal
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 08:23:25
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Go for #5....
Deal |
Live free or die.
Plain and simple.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your council or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."
- Samuel Adams |
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CoinHunter53562
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1805 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 10:06:14
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| Hoard nailed it. You can get a cheap digital scale on EBay for around $8 plus a few bucks for shipping. I use it for both 1982 pennies, and to check weights on other coins like Trade Dollars, Morgans, etc. If you are not into numismatics and have no interest in buying even a cheap scale, than do the homemade balance thing. |
My hobby: collecting real money 1 copper cent or nickel at a time.
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theo
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
588 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 12:06:59
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Thanks guys! I have no problem spending $10 to $20 on a small scale (I was worried they'd be more). I may try the Popsicle stick scale because it sounds fun. How much would a Ryedale machine cost?
Coinhunter, do you weigh numismatics to confirm authenticity? I go for mostly junk silver, but I do like the walking liberty halves and Morgans. |
"Hobbies? I got no hobbies! Everything I do; I do for real." The Gold Coast |
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HoardCopperByTheTon
Administrator
USA
6807 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 13:31:58
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I have some of those high end scales, but you don't really need one that serious for sorting copper from zinc. One of our members, MRBONG sells several different models of scales at reasonable prices. I bought a few from him in the past, and they work fine. He is also running a contest in the contest section where you can win one for free.
The Ryedales cost a bit more than even the better scales.. and are worth every penny! The Ryedale machines are manufactured and sold by a fellow member also. |
If your percentages are low.. just sort more. If your percentages are high.. just sort more.
Now selling Copper pennies. 1.6x plus shipping. Limited amounts available. |
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Computer Jones
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1112 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 14:31:25
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| Drop or bounce them on a hard surface, Cu will ring, Zn won't. |
There's profit if you melt things!!
8{> |
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n/a
deleted
42 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 15:01:28
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| Jones has it |
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keys
Penny Collector Member
383 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 18:07:58
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Slightly different take on #5
Get a nail file and file the edge of the penny-
copper=copper color zinc=silver color. |
I change with the times-
but like silver coins found in your change
I stay the same.
*****************
The United States of America started out as the new Republic of Rome.
Will The United States of America end up as the New Imperial Rome? |
Edited by - keys on 02/07/2009 18:10:14 |
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HoardCopperByTheTon
Administrator
USA
6807 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 18:29:05
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| Jones' solution was covered in #4. I still like #2 best. #6 was suggested by another member here in an old thread I remember reading. |
If your percentages are low.. just sort more. If your percentages are high.. just sort more.
Now selling Copper pennies. 1.6x plus shipping. Limited amounts available. |
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Flbandit
Penny Hoarding Member
USA
851 Posts |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 19:26:07
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| I bounce mine on the tile floor. There is a distinct difference in tone. |
Are you throwing that out? |
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CoinHunter53562
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1805 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2009 : 00:45:53
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quote:
Originally posted by theo
Thanks guys! I have no problem spending $10 to $20 on a small scale (I was worried they'd be more). I may try the Popsicle stick scale because it sounds fun. How much would a Ryedale machine cost?
Coinhunter, do you weigh numismatics to confirm authenticity? I go for mostly junk silver, but I do like the walking liberty halves and Morgans.
Yeah I use it for the numismatics to help assure that they are authentic. I just used it for a Trade Dollar that I sold on another forum. These are often faked but mine was within 0.1 grams of the stated weight (due to loss from wear) and I made sure to put that in the listing. My scale is small enough that I can take it with me when I do purchases on Craigslist if there is anything questionable. |
My hobby: collecting real money 1 copper cent or nickel at a time.
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CoinHunter53562
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1805 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2009 : 00:48:06
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| Oh and another good thing about a small scale...it helps me quickly count my copper cents after hand sorting. I put a small tupperware container on the scale, tare it to zero, and then put enough cents in there until it reaches about 155 grams (I allow from 154.3 to 155.0 for wear), and that gives me a quick count of 50 copper cents. I used to count by hand and it took forever, plus I messed up constantly, or would lose count and have to start over. |
My hobby: collecting real money 1 copper cent or nickel at a time.
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1982 Pennies
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