Little Help / Advice with 1982 Cents

[Farchaus2k]

Obviously the 1982 Cooper cents have a different weight than the 1982 Zinc cents. Anyone have a recommendation on a scale that would be best to properly weigh them so I can separate the copper from the zinc? Thanks as always for your advice and help. Happy Hunting!!

 

[ArkieBassMan]

I bought one at Harbor Freight for less than $10.

 

[kvilleification]

I got a cheap jewelry scale for like 5 bucks on feebay. Works perfectly. But I usually just bang em' on the table . A lot faster.

 

[quiksilver]

I no longer weigh them as it takes too much time

 

[Dok Holliday]

I got a cheap one on Amazon.com that does Grams, oz, ozt, and dwt. Pretty accurate.

 

[Numismaniac]

I got a cheap digital jewelry scale on Ebay as well for less than $10. I weigh the 82s (actually, my 14 year old does, she thinks it's fun) and with about 500 of them weighed so far, we have found that about 80% of the 82s are copper vs zinc.

Won't pay for the scale with weighing 82s, but I use it to weigh lots of coins. Pretty handy for checking weights on suspected errors and stuff.

HH

 

[madwest]

I bought one at Harbor Freight for less than $10.

Me too.

I like it for the price.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-gram-digital-scale-97920.html (you can find a 20% off coupon in lots of magazines and newspapers)

 

[Farchaus2k]

Excellent. Thank you all for the advice.

 

[Canadian hunter]

I no longer weigh them as it takes too much time

Agreed, for penny hoarding it's not worth the time to spend on. After all treating all 1982s as Zn wouldn't hurt.

 

[Hopper39]

Don't bother with a scale. Just flip them in the air. Copper will have a sustained *ping* sound, zinc will sound dull. I know that sounds vague, but you'll know what I mean when you hear them side-by-side.

Here's an Amazon link for a model I own and like:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FIASRM/?tag=treasurenet01-20

 

[usandthem]

I no longer weigh them as it takes too much time

Agreed, for penny hoarding it's not worth the time to spend on. After all treating all 1982s as Zn wouldn't hurt.

About 75% to 80% of the '82's are copper. I weigh every one of them.

 

[mts]

You guys are still date checking and weighing cents? Get with the times folks...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXPvaFCX8HU

Alternate URL:
http://www.youtu.be/watch?v=PXPvaFCX8HU

 

[tmjones550]

I keep any dated before 82.HH

 

[usandthem]

You guys are still date checking and weighing cents? Get with the times folks...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXPvaFCX8HU

Alternate URL:
http://www.youtu.be/watch?v=PXPvaFCX8HU

I gave $10 for my scale. How much is that MD?

 

[mts]

I gave $10 for my scale. How much is that MD?

$60 from Hobby Lobby. But you can also use it to metal detect and find even more pennies to sort. Plus you use it on every penny and not just the 1982's.

But I'm just giving you guys a hard time. I have the $10 Harbor Freight scale too and it does a good job. Everyone should have a scale of some kind.

 

[Farchaus2k]

The wife already thinks I'm a dingus for keeping copper cents. If I trot a metal detector in here as well, I'm gonna need a new place to live.

 

[silvernd]

The wife already thinks I'm a dingus for keeping copper cents. If I trot a metal detector in here as well, I'm gonna need a new place to live.

Ditto.

 

[mts]

Well, I started with a metal detector and moved on to hoarding copper. So it wasn't a problem for me. I'm always amazed that so many people who don't have a metal detector hang out at a site that was originally made for metal detecting enthusiasts. Oh well, it's all good.

 

[madwest]

Well, I started with a metal detector and moved on to hoarding copper. So it wasn't a problem for me. I'm always amazed that so many people who don't have a metal detector hang out at a site that was originally made for metal detecting enthusiasts. Oh well, it's all good.

I started out hoarding copper. Someday, I'll leap into MD'ing. The two hobbies seem to appeal to like-minded persons.

 

[mick56]

I made a little scale out of a popsicle stick with a nail glued to the center (with the head cut off). Put either a pre, or post, 82 cent on one side of the scale. Very easy to tell when you put an unknown on the other side as the copper are heavier.