1960-1982 Pennies?

[apush]

I had read the coin rolling guide for beginners that is posted in another section of this site. The guide suggested saving all pre 1983 pennies. I believe it was for the copper content. As these are so abundunt, I am unsure if I should really save these. Does anyone else save pre 1983 pennies?
apush

 

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[GPURS]

If you are saving copper cents, then you will want to keep about 75% of the 82 cents that you find. They switched from copper to copper plated zinc in 1982, thus the reason that not all of them are copper. There are a bunch of 82's out there, so you need to either buy or make yourself a scale to weigh them. It's easy to make one, but if you want to be positive, get yourself a cheap digital scale (for about $20). The copper cents will weigh in at about 3.1 grams, and the zinc cents will read about 2.5 grams.. Good luck, Gpurs..

 

[apush]

Thanks! You are absoulty right. I need to purchase a scale.
apush

 

[twinsrule]

Another way to tell the 82's apart is by dropping them. Copper will ring, zink will tink. I keep the pre 83s too, they're around 25% of circulation. They are selling for about 1 to 2 cents a piece, but might go up more later. If you plan on selling them, hold on until copper goes up somemore.

 

[DigginThePast]

I save all the pre 82's. The 82's I weigh and sort but save separately. That is what I do.

 

[AU24K]

I save all pre 1982 cents.
I sort them by date and mint mark. When I get 50 of a variety, I'll roll them up and write what date and mint mark they are on the wrapper.
Right now $10 face value of copper cents are worth over $20.

Scott

 

[tinkb]

I think saving both copper and silver is good idea, especially fine or better. Since the prices if precious metals went up, 10s of millions of coins have been melted down. I keep any copper coins that is in fine condition from the 40s and fifties and any from the 30s down.

I even keep 80/90s zinc in BU condition. As cheap as they are a roll right now and easily as they corrode they should go up in value better then older copper has. As for silver, so much has been melted down in AG-VG that they should also go up in price as newer collectors come into the hobby.

 

[Silver Eagle]

I save all copper cents I come across. Some very nice AU coins can be found in circulation at times & they may some day be desired to fill albums, so I keep most all better condition in either albums or rolls.

Not sure what the zinc to copper ratio is in circulation, but the zinc is by far more plentiful in my area..
FWIW, I dont go thru rolls anymore, I just pick from my pocket & my wifes purse