new way to handsort!

[penny pretty]

OK, usually when I handsort a roll, I put the zincs to one side, and the coppers on the other. Not anymore! I just opened a roll and soon figured out it was 100% CU. SO I sorted into.. shiny, and NOT shiny.(Im scientific like that) When you buy pennies at the bank, just ask for all copper rolls!

[barrytrot]

Actually it goes slightly beyond "shiny" there are certain colors that copper cents have. In other words a shiny copper cent is easily distinguishable from a shiny zince.

Once you look at them for a while you can sort with about 95% accuracy from about 10 feet away.

[Bham]

I noticed this too! I started hand sorting recently and I too separate them first by shine. I'm not quite good enough yet but I would say I'm about 75% right by just a quick look. I have noticed that once I pick them up the zinc ones have a worn cheap feel while the copper ones you can feel more detail. Learning more every day!

[tinhorn]

When you buy pennies at the bank, just ask for all copper rolls!

Hahaha! I'll be sure to try that technique!

[penny pretty]

Actually it goes slightly beyond "shiny" there are certain colors that copper cents have. In other words a shiny copper cent is easily distinguishable from a shiny zince.

Once you look at them for a while you can sort with about 95% accuracy from about 10 feet away.

I know. It was an all copper roll. I was just saying it was nice to seperate regular CU from AU CU instead of CU from zinc.

[Sheba]

Actually it goes slightly beyond "shiny" there are certain colors that copper cents have. In other words a shiny copper cent is easily distinguishable from a shiny zince.

Once you look at them for a while you can sort with about 95% accuracy from about 10 feet away.

Totally agree with this comment!!

[mongo]

Have you ever noticed that the coppers seem to have a deeper stamp to them whereas the zincs seem to wear out quicker and do not have distinct markings like the coppers do. Probably because its real money.

[Numis Pam]

Have you ever noticed that the coppers seem to have a deeper stamp to them whereas the zincs seem to wear out quicker and do not have distinct markings like the coppers do. Probably because its real money.

+1 I find this to be true as well.

[BHalbisen]

Handsorting sucks, but the after you do it a while you just know which are which....except for those sneaky 1982 pennies. I haven't figured out a way to tell those besides dropping them on the floor to hear what kind of sound they make~!!

[scyther]

I got sick of putting them in a separate pile, so now I just throw them in the zinc pile.