1982 LD vs SD & making a scale

[eagames]

Here's everything you need to know to determine what your 1982 cents are and make a scale for free to tell copper from zinc.

There are 7 types not including the S proof.
1)Large date copper plain
2)Large date copper D
3)Small date copper plain
4)Small date zinc D
5)Large date zinc plain
6)Large date zinc D
7)Small date zinc plain
(Small date copper D does not exist)
(All proofs are copper and S mint)

To tell copper from zinc you can:
1)Look for plating bumps, if it has them it's zinc.
2)Drop it on a table if it sounds dull it's zinc.
3)Flip it and if it rings it's copper.
4)Weigh it, zinc is lighter than copper.

If you don't want to look for bumps or your hearing does not hear the sounds you can weigh them.

To tell large from small date there are many differances and the 8 is the best pick up point. If the top lobe is smaller it's small date, if about equal it's large date.

See below for date pictures and below that for making the free scale: The top picture is LARGE DATE.




The free scale works like a teeter totter, zinc stays up but copper drops. This one was made by flattening a metal brush and bending it to shape. Any strip of metal or tin can works. You can fold one end for the weight or add some solder or glue things to calibrate it until it's balanced correctly so zinc stays up but copper drops. The pivot point is a bend in the strip, the end is bent to hold the cent in a fixed position. I used a blue piece of electrical tape so it won't scratch the coins and used solder to balance this one.

Top picture is the side view.
Next is the bottom view.
Next is a zinc cent staying up.
Next is a copper cent dropping it down.
Next is the brush I used to make it, just unroll a brush and the tin makes a good metal strip and it's easy to solder on tin.

If you don't want to use metal you can use a piece of wood and a pencil for the pivot point.

[Dick]

Ed, The only other "teeter-totter", is this one, and it isn't for coins, kids, as you will see, later. It is not available at the moment, but will be, later. I admire your ingenuity!


This is what I mean!
Dick

[eagames]

The scale also has another use other than 1982 cents.

In 1989 and 1990 (don't remember if D or P or both) there have been non zinc cents found and they were concidered transitional errors because they are from old non zinc planchets that the mint got mixed in with new planchets.

Those coins sold for super high prices!

They could have made others in any year that should be zinc plans. I would bet that some 1983 cents got made on copper plans that were left in bins or equipment too. So if you find one you have a very rare coin.

So I use my scale to look for non zinc plans on other years but I haven't found one yet. I didn't want to flip or drop or touch every cent that I check so the scale has a use for that.

If all of the folks on the site make a scale and weigh their zincs maybe someone will find one of those high dollar transitional errors. Happy hunting!

[Dick]

ED, that is a good idea. Looks like we will have to be keeping the "teeter-totter" handy. The logic is there. Hope some of the coins turn up in rolls! Don't think my "teeter-totter" will be as useful as yours!
Dick

[eagames]

Dick, with a few mods that teeter would work too


This has some info on the 1989-d struck on non-zinc plans, there are also known ones from 1990:


http://www.minterrornews.com/issue12.pdf

[slikrep]

If you happened to have a digital scale, you could probably weigh entire rolls all at once. If there was a variance, then you could break down the roll and figure out which one or ones were different.

[Dick]

ED, I imagine the birds would have to be identical weights, so the coins would reflect their actual weight. That teeter is functional, BTW.
My digital scale is "ka-busted"! Batteries, I think.
Dick

[eagames]

Dick,

You might try this:

Tape a zinc cent right before (inside from) one bird.

Then set a second cent about 1/4 or 1/8th inch before (inside from) the other bird.

With some adjusting of the position of where you place the second cent you should be able to find a spot where you can set it where a zinc will stay up and a copper will drop. Just mark the spot that works that way.

Does it work?

[Dick]

ED, it would work, no doubt. My problem is that if I break anything, the wife will have her vengeance on me! I built that birdhouse for her, two, or three years ago, and she is very careful who gets near it! She did the painting.
Dick

[coop]

Dick: It is always better to take the coins out of the roll so they won't break the teeter todder.

[Dick]

OOOOPS! Coop, now why didn't I think of that, (before the "teeter tottered across the floor")?
Dick