I have some questions, please.

[Sheba]

I've been "sorting" copper pennies for some time (4 or 5 years). Not large amounts (I don't use a Ryedale), but small quantities do add up over time. Recently I took a break for several months, not doing any checking of pennies though I have been storing boxes picked up from banks once in awhile. Just recently I got back into sorting (I hand sort) and I wonder if some of you folks could give me your thoughts on the following questions. I sure appreciate advice or thoughts from anyone!

1) Is it worthwhile to separate the 'S' mint 1968-1974 pennies from all other coppers?
2) Is it worthwhile to separate 1959-1963 Lincs. from the rest of the copper Lincs.
3) Is it worthwhile to separate any Memorial copper Linc. that is in AU or BU condition (any date) from the rest of the coppers?
4) Am I right that all Canadian pennies dated through 1996 have copper value, but beginning with 1997 they are steel or some other non copper composition?

I do weigh my 1982s and keep the coppers as well as looking for the 'wide AMs', and some of the other well known DDR and DDO pennies.

Thanks, everyone and anyone, who shares answers with me on these questions.

Best regards and good hunting!!

[henrysmedford]

MY THOUGHTS IN RED
1) Is it worthwhile to separate the 'S' mint 1968-1974 pennies from all other coppers?If you are on the east coast they are hard to find my son Franklin had been pulling them and we have about 1/2 box 1969-1973 of each but only $2.00 each of the 1969 and 1974 all of them were pulled at the same time frame.
2) Is it worthwhile to separate 1959-1963 Lincs. from the rest of the copper Lincs.I have not seen this asked before what is your thoughts for asking?
3) Is it worthwhile to separate any Memorial copper Linc. that is in AU or BU condition (any date) from the rest of the coppers? Yes if you like helping someone who is starting a folder they make nice gifts.
4) Am I right that all Canadian pennies dated through 1996 have copper value, but beginning with 1997 they are steel or some other non copper composition?
Yes--
1920 to 1941
Composition: 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc
Weight (g): 3.24
Diameter (mm): 19.05
Thickness (mm): 1.65

1942 to 1977
Composition: 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc
Weight (g): 3.24
Diameter (mm): 19.05
Thickness (mm): 1.65

1978 to 1979
Composition: 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc
Weight (g): 3.24
Diameter (mm): 19.05
Thickness (mm): 1.52

1980 to 1981
Composition: 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc
Weight (g): 2.8
Diameter (mm): 19
Thickness (mm): 1.45

1982 to 1996
Composition: 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc
Weight (g): 2.5
Diameter (mm): 19.1
Thickness (mm): 1.45

1997 to 1999
Composition: 98.4% zinc, 1.6% copper plating
Weight (g): 2.25
Diameter (mm): 19.05
Thickness (mm): 1.45

2000 to date
Composition: 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plating or copper plated zinc
Weight (g): 2.35
Diameter (mm): 19.05
Thickness (mm): 1.45

[henrysmedford]

2) Is it worthwhile to separate 1959-1963 Lincs. from the rest of the copper Lincs.
Is it the tin free in the 1962-1982 why you ask?

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_%28United_States_coin%29#Metal_content_and_manufacturing_costs

Brass cents, 1962–1982 The composition of the coin was changed again in 1962. Mint officials felt that deletion of the tin content would have no adverse effect on the wearing qualities of the coin, whereas the manufacturing advantages to be gained with the alloy stabilized at 95% copper and 5% zinc would be of much benefit. Congressional authority for this modification is contained in an Act of Congress approved on September 5, 1962.

[tuleja]

1) Is it worthwhile to separate the 'S' mint 1968-1974 pennies from all other coppers?

It's up to you, but I keep all 'S' mints. From 1968-74 they are always the lowest mintage for each year. Some 1940's and 50's have quite a bit higher mintage than most of those 'S' mints.

2) Is it worthwhile to separate 1959-1963 Lincs. from the rest of the copper Lincs.

I've heard of one or two that keep the 1959's due to the fact that it was the first year for the Memorial Reverse. They might be the 1909's of our grand children's time, but I don't keep them separate.

[Diggin4copper]

I keep the real nice BU coppers I come across separate... and i was planning on going back thru the stash for S mints someday, but I think my pile has grown too large for that... Someday I figure Ill sell them as "Unsearched coppers" on Ebay...

[Sheba]

Hi all,

Thanks for the great replies and the great help.

In answer to why I separate the 59-63 is simply because I don't see quite so many of them as of the 64-81 (82) and thought that perhaps they might be worth a little more, numismatically. But now I am kind of assuming that it probably isn't necessary to separate them.

I will keep separating the 'S' mints (68-74). Its interesting (I live in the Midwest) and the 1969 S is the most common 'S' mint I find.

I probably will start just separating the really clean BUs I run across and put everything else in 'common copper' storage including 59-63.

Again, thanks for the excellent replies and help (specially for the great information from 'henrysmedford'

best regards, all.

[TheJonasCollegeFund]

Hi all,

Thanks for the great replies and the great help.

In answer to why I separate the 59-63 is simply because I don't see quite so many of them as of the 64-81 (82) and thought that perhaps they might be worth a little more, numismatically. But now I am kind of assuming that it probably isn't necessary to separate them.

I will keep separating the 'S' mints (68-74). Its interesting (I live in the Midwest) and the 1969 S is the most common 'S' mint I find.

I probably will start just separating the really clean BUs I run across and put everything else in 'common copper' storage including 59-63.

Again, thanks for the excellent replies and help (specially for the great information from 'henrysmedford'

best regards, all.

Be on the lookout for the 1970S small date. Also, there are a number repunched mintmarks and othe oddities that people collect.

[jacer333]

What part of the midwest are you representing? I'm here in Nebraska. I kept S mints separate when I started sorting, but have since stopped doing that and throw them in my copper pile. I'm also getting lazy with my BU's, only plucking the shiny ones if I am in the mood for extra work

[henrysmedford]

What part of the midwest are you representing? I'm here in Nebraska. I kept S mints separate when I started sorting, but have since stopped doing that and throw them in my copper pile. I'm also getting lazy with my BU's, only plucking the shiny ones if I am in the mood for extra work

If i had found a 1909S VBD I could afford not to look so hard at a the coins.

[jacer333]

Heh, it does keep me checking my rejects with an eagle eye though!