Weathered pennies crumbling and disintegrating.

[thecrazyone]

I find a lot of weathered pennies, and have noticed that those newer than the copper ones can, and have, broken in my hand, or will disintegrate. Anyone else experienced this? It's another reason that I am quick to unload newer year pennies!

[68Camaro]

We've discussed it. Zinc is a sacrificial metal in any electrolytic corrosion event and will destroy itself in the process. It's not a good choice for circulating coin due to that limited life, but they are stamping so many of them they are more than replacing the corrosion losses (though at a cost).

[thecrazyone]

Interesting. Wasn't aware of that!

[68Camaro]

Nickels aren't zinc and the cu ni alloy used for US 5 cents are inherently corrosion resistent - in fact that alloy is in common use for marine purposes.

[thecrazyone]

My error, thought they had zinc in them too. Apologies!

[coppernickel]

The zinc penny, " Warning; This coin will self destruct in 20-30 years!"

[Recyclersteve]

Are you saying the zinc pennies break into pieces? I've gone through lots of rolls of pennies and don't ever remember seeing one broken into pieces. I'd be curious to see photos of a zinc Lincoln on it's last legs. Anyone know of any videos or websites showing this?

[68Camaro]

They will eventually corrode to nothing. You won't see them in most rolls because the sorting machines will have rejected them

[thecrazyone]

I just had one break that was next to a car wash vac and it broke when I was cleaning it off.

Any newer ones that I find that were exposed to The elements for some time always do it to me. I have to make sure that I use them as quickly as possible!

I can email a pic next time it happens, but it definitely does.

[thecrazyone]

Here's a vid where they have a broken penny:

https://youtu.be/pfhFHr9JVAM

[coindood]

I'd be curious to see photos of a zinc Lincoln on it's last legs. Anyone know of any videos or websites showing this?

Dang!

I had a couple dozen I rescued from a Coinstar a few years back that I gradually fed back into rolls brought to the bank since I couldn't stand throwing even one cent away. The last few were the worst, roughly 25% of the coin was gone and what was left was severely corroded. Could barely make out design features. I'm sure these were brought in by homeless people who'd found them on the ground and were exposed to the elements for months/years (the coins, not the people ...on second though, perhaps the people too ). The worst of them I'm sure would've broken in half if I'd attempted it. Never took pics though.

[Recyclersteve]

Wow- I didn't realize they were so fragile. It would be interesting to see what happens to one when dropped off a tall building...

[thecrazyone]

I know, I was in total shock to see that could happen. When you have coins that are over 100 yrs old, it's mind-blowing to see a much newer coin break like an egg!

[hobo finds]

Just like anything lately the new stuff doesn't last as long as the older ones

[Chief]

Zinc pennies are junk. They are worth the metal that they are made of

[hobo finds]

Add the damaged zinc to rolls or spend them when you get them. The mint has suspended the damaged coin buy back program again so it is best to get rid of them quick.

[thecrazyone]

The mint has suspended the damaged coin buy back program again so it is best to get rid of them quick.

Now that's funny. They're probably getting more back than they can manage!

Was there a damaged coin buyback program during Roman times?

[coindood]

Looking thru my collection I found a couple of rolls of abused coins and I thought about this thread.

When zincolns like this first began emerging I thought they were oddities, so I saved a bunch. The previous batch I mentioned were much worse than this, but these have also been thru the ringer. Not enough to be able to break them in half, but they're getting there. Before that happens I'm gonna put em back in rolls for the bank.

[fasteddy]

I have a coffee can gettin full of these trash cents...I also have a zinc cent with no zinc...only the copper shell.