First bag...

[lockespop]

Just started sorting cents last week with a fairly nice homebrew contraption that my son and I made for a weekend project.

I've been reading the forums for a while now, and from what I've read I was expecting to see around 20-25% copper in my area, maybe up to 30% on a good box or bag...So far, my worst box has been 33%, my average has been almost exactly 35% so far. (Approx. $500 worth of boxes and CWR thus far)

Today, I got my first bag from a coin counter - 38% copper.

Is this normal for anyone else, or am I in a hot area?

[aloneibreak]

Just started sorting cents last week with a fairly nice homebrew contraption that my son and I made for a weekend project.

I've been reading the forums for a while now, and from what I've read I was expecting to see around 20-25% copper in my area, maybe up to 30% on a good box or bag...So far, my worst box has been 33%, my average has been almost exactly 35% so far. (Approx. $500 worth of boxes and CWR thus far)

Today, I got my first bag from a coin counter - 38% copper.

Is this normal for anyone else, or am I in a hot area?

sounds like a hot area

or maybe just beginners luck

welcome to the forum !

[plus1hdcp]

Welcome to the forum and stack all you can, especially at those percentages. I average about 19%

Wouldn't mind to see a picture of your sorting machine you and your son made.

[RichardPenny43]

Definitely sounds like a hot spot to me, or maybe your "homebrew contraption" isn't very accurate. Did you double sort them with your machine?

[fb101]

Hot area. Good for you.
Try some silver!

[lockespop]

Definitely sounds like a hot spot to me, or maybe your "homebrew contraption" isn't very accurate. Did you double sort them with your machine?

It's actually been very accurate, I'm happy with it. It's really just a coin sorter with two comparitors in series. It doubles sorts on one pass through the machine, then I hand sort the copper to find the oddballs. I've never found more than 3-4 zinc in the copper after a double sort, and they typically have some deformation.

It's been hot for wheat cents as well. I can typically count on 20-25 per $25 box. My $50 bag had 64 wheats and 32 foreign, mostly Canadian.

If this percentage holds up I may have to seriously consider that new Ryedale Maxx when it becomes available.

Thanks for the welcome to the forum, I've enjoyed lurking for a while, now that I'm in the game I hope to contribute to the discussion a bit more.

[lockespop]

Hot area. Good for you.
Try some silver!

I do silver as well, started in November and had a great start. Huge scores right from the start, all the way through Christmas. This year had been a very different story. I had more solid rolls of half dollars in November and December than I've had singular silver halves this year. Hit one nice vein on dimes for a few days, but it has since run dry.

The cents have been more fun than I expected. No skunks is nice!

[jacer333]

Welcome to the addiction! Sounds like you are off to a nice start....mind sharing where you are located pulling in that nice %?

[crazypennyguy]

Welcome to the addiction! Sounds like you are off to a nice start....mind sharing where you are located pulling in that nice %?

Enquiring sorters want to know!

[dakota1955]

bag are fun and i think the only way to go if you can get them

[twentybux]

Nice start and welcome to the forum!!!

[TheJonasCollegeFund]

OK....welcome to big show. What part of the country are you hunting in?

Gotta love them bags!

[lockespop]

I'm in Bethlehem, PA. Anyone nearby???

[PADFH]

NEPA here. Good percentages, nearly always 25%+. Last few weeks with solid 2012s being an exception.