Why using a sorting machine to pick out coppers?

[PADFH]

I've noticed most people use a pre 1982 copper as a comparative coin when using a sorting machine. I was wondering why people don't use a zinc penny since anything that isn't zinc will get dumped in the reject pile. This would seem to make it easier to search for wheats and other oddities.

Is there something I'm missing?

Thanks in advance.

[galenrog]

When I run cents I first run everything using a zinc as reference. I then run the zincs and coppers separately with a copper reference. Coppers comes out nearly 100% clean. Zincs usually give up a few more coppers. Still have to hand sort for wheats and old canadians

[reddirtcoins]

I use a new 80 then I use a new 11. Also hand sort the pile to pull wheats, etc... You just have to play around with it and see what you like best. Some don't even bother a second run as where others will do 3 or 4.
What I found out is when I do zincs I get a lot of copper in the zinc reject and just doing copper first seemed easier. Which ever way I do it, it still takes the same time (which is not that long)... I normally do about 4-6 bags minimum when I do pennies.

[Chief]

When I run cents I first run everything using a zinc as reference. I then run the zincs and coppers separately with a copper reference. Coppers comes out nearly 100% clean. Zincs usually give up a few more coppers. Still have to hand sort for wheats and old canadians

This is my way of using a Ryedale. Has worked well so far. Happy sorting!

[DebtFreeMe]

I use a copper penny first because after testing my machine many times, whenever it has an error, it will error by rejecting rather than including a penny. So, after I run it with a copper penny I know that my accept pile is all copper. I will then hand sort through those for wheat pennies, and Canadian copper pennies.

Then after that, I will re-run my rejects using a zinc penny to get any copper pennies that were accidentally rejected, or any other interesting coins that ended up in the reject pile.

[PADFH]

Great replies, Thanks folks.

[PADFH]

Ok after running some and testing I have a small problem. IHs seem to be accepted when I use a zinc reference and rejected using a copper reference. I don't want to miss these but I don't want to hand sort the zinc rejects I've already run twice. Any suggestions?

[68Camaro]

Ok after running some and testing I have a small problem. IHs seem to be accepted when I use a zinc reference and rejected using a copper reference. I don't want to miss these but I don't want to hand sort the zinc rejects I've already run twice. Any suggestions?

Presuming you have one to use, what does a IH reference do?

[inflationhawk]

Ok after running some and testing I have a small problem. IHs seem to be accepted when I use a zinc reference and rejected using a copper reference. I don't want to miss these but I don't want to hand sort the zinc rejects I've already run twice. Any suggestions?

Presuming you have one to use, what does a IH reference do?

lol! You'd probably get a 99.99995% reject rate! Now that I have bought one and gave up on ever finding one in the wild maybe I'll test this theory.

[slickeast]

I use a ZINC accept first. This will ACCEPT all GOOD ZINCS. It will reject anything that is not a top notch ZINC.

Then I run a COPPER ACCEPT. This will accept all the COPPERS. Anything that gets rejected will be the corroded zincs that didn't get accepted the 1st time along with any others that snuck thru. It will also reject some older wheats.

By using this method I only have to run about 25% of my initial amount on the 2nd run.

[bman]

I hand sort so I reject the zincs and never miss any IH or wheaties!

[PADFH]

IHs were accepted when using a 1999 zinc coin.

I think my problem isn't really a problem. I only have a cheap machine from ebay and built my own case for it. I have to just flatten the pennies out and push them down the chute. It gives me some time to notice anything wierd but I don't have to read dates. Seems to be working well.

[Mtl325]

I go zinc accept then copper accept. Hand check rejects for wheat/ih. Found my first Indian this weekend. Such a thrill to find something over 100 years old in a bag of coins!