Are you saving pre-1982 Lincoln cents?

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

Just a fast question: "How many of you dedicated Lincoln cent searchers who look through cicrulated rolls are now putting aside all Lincoln cents made before 1982?"

WAVYSTEPS2003 aka BJ Neff

coop · Expert Member

Not yet. I'm still tossing them back to circulation. I need to start, but getting rid of them later might be a problem. Most of them are worth keeping as they have seen a lot of bad road when I got them. But I know copper value is just value for the copper in them regardless of how bad they look.
I have started saving AU coins that are before 2000. You know the ones you see. The ones that are almost BU and you hope so much that they would contain a variety. Maybe in 40 years they might be collectable. That would make me...... Rolling Eyes

Earwig · Veteran Member

I have been for about 2 months now almost got a bag and a half

Bob P · Site Admin

I have not started hoarding pre-82 cents with the exception of wheaties. Maybe I should...huh?

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

I have seen more than a few "letters to the editor" and other posts indicating that it is a growing trend. So, along with the "wheats", I am now saving pre 1982 (wont spend the time to weigh each 1982 that I run across, LOL).

BJ

Dick · Expert Member

BJ, I don't save,(or haven't been) saving all the wheats before 1982, but all the '82's, get stashed. Most of them have die cracks on the rev. I do collect them. All 8 varieties, and versions. No I don't weigh them either. I don't think the floor in my house would hold up if I had been!
Looks like I am going to have to go BACK thru that box I just finished looking at. Like Coop, I won't be saving the "Road Kill"! They are jusy too ugly to give them a reprieve!
Dick

gription · Advanced Member

eagames · Expert Member

I'm trying hard to do the opposite.
My goal is to rid myself of them once I'm sure they aren't a variety. I'm eager to spend em or cash em in and get more to search for varieties. I did save a few rolls of uncs from each year. If they stop making them I'll hunt for cheap OBWs to hunt through.

I like hunting varieties and don't think common circ memorials will have much value beyond inflation in my lifetime. If I hoarded because the metal is worth more than face I'd hoard scrap metal... keep a few old cars, girders, battleships but my neighbors already think I'm a slob so I better not. Rolling Eyes

To tell the truth I wanted a junkyard since I was a kid so it's hard to resist. Sanford and Son were my idols and I wanted Freds old stepside and neat junk they had Laughing

Look at common wheats, they were out of circ almost 50 years and have low value not even keeping with inflation. If you put them in the bank in 1958 you'd be better off than saving them.

My advice is search em, spend em or get more to search for some varieties. Of course saving a few rolls of uncs from each year or unc wheats is a good thing you can't go wrong but saving everything.... I'd drown in them Wink

ldarrellc · Senior Member

I will save all my pre 1982 lincoln cents....searched of course....... for anyone that wants to pay me 1.4 cents for everyone I keep and of course the shipping charges Rolling Eyes

lol

coppercoins · Site Admin

Actually the only ones really worth saving are the circ 1982P small date cents and the circ 1969 and 1971 Philly cents...and maybe S mint memorials...but the 1982P small dates for sure.

BJ...no need to weigh 1982 cents. The different metals make a different sound when dropped on a table. They are as easy to sort as any others. Copper makes a high-pitched ring, and zinc makes a lead-like thud.

Earwig · Veteran Member

A bag of 5000 copper pennys as of today is worth 94.40 in scrap value at the moment the way to go is canadian nickels they are 100 percent nickel at 15.8621 per pound also a bag of zinc pennys are worth 64.80 in scrap value and rising where copper has started dropping. These prices reflect the scrap being unpure at 90 percent the nickel is scrap price at 100 percent nickel content. I scrap alot of machine tool steel and they are goin through the roof atm. So i might just start saving everything. I do believe that after 2009 the penny will change compistion to copper plate steel like canadas is. Does any1 know the year canada went from 100 percent copper to plated steel?

Eric

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

Chuck - Never thought of the drop test and it makes sense. Good idea, thanks.

BJ

NWDave · New Member

Even though I wasn't collecting coins in 1983, I was aware of the change to zinc. I would use the drop test to demonstrate the difference to friends. I wonder how many varieties I dinged and mishandled Sad

. Last week I was looking at some of the bags of wheats being offered on eBay. There was one bozo claiming the the copper weight alone for the bag he was selling, was worth over $250. Apparently it worked. The bag of wheats sold for over $300. I sent a polite email to this joker, pointing out his "error". I never did get a reply. Little surprise there. And yes, I have been saving pre 1982 cents. I mean, hey, if one bag of copper is worth $250... Rolling Eyes

coppercoins · Site Admin

Earwig - According to Krause the Canadian cent went from solid bronze to copper plated zinc during 1996, then in 1997 went to bronze plated zinc. I don't think this is correct, but I can't be certain. I thought they went to a non-copper alloy in the early 1980s.

wavysteps2003 · Expert Member

Here is the break down from the Wikipedia on the Canadian cent.

1941 - 1976: 95.5 % copper, 3 % tin, 1.5 % zinc
1977 - 1996: 98 % copper, .5 % tin, 1.5 % zinc
1997 - 1999: 98.4 % zinc, 1.6 % copper plating
2000 - 2006: 94 % steel, 1.5 % nickel, 4.5 % copper plated zinc

BJ