Pennies and rust
- Thread starter Jessie
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Alpo
Member
I heard of it a couple of years ago, and I've used it. What works, for me, is to oil the rust and let it soak for a while. Then have some oil in a cup, and dip the penny in it, so there is a drop of oil on the edge while you work.
Just start scraping the oily rust with the edge of the oily penny. Eventually you have to turn the penny as you wear the sharp edge down, and it's scary at first as it leaves a coppery smear on the gun. But that wipes right off with the rust and the oil.
Keep going back to the cup with your penny. Like using wet-or-dry sandpaper, you want your penny to be wet. If it's not trying to slip out your fingers, get some more oil on it.
Just start scraping the oily rust with the edge of the oily penny. Eventually you have to turn the penny as you wear the sharp edge down, and it's scary at first as it leaves a coppery smear on the gun. But that wipes right off with the rust and the oil.
Keep going back to the cup with your penny. Like using wet-or-dry sandpaper, you want your penny to be wet. If it's not trying to slip out your fingers, get some more oil on it.
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Just make sure it's old enough to be copper.
deadin
US Veteran
I've also used a chunk of brass, copper wool and a product you used to be able to get that was nickle wool. All are softer than steel and harder than rust. (supposedly). I've had mixed results with all. It depends on just how much rust is there as none will get rid of pits or the discoloration that happens with an abused surface.
All very interesting. I have a Colt DS with a small rust blemish that I would like to remove but of course, I want to do it right the first time.
Thanks for the replies, I guess it really does work.
Does anyone know what year the penny stopped being all copper?
Thanks for the replies, I guess it really does work.
Does anyone know what year the penny stopped being all copper?
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TenTea
Member
Always a penny on my bench.
1982 and earlier pennies are copper (except for WWII vintage steel pennies).
1983 and later pennies are plated zinc.
Choose accordingly.
1982 and earlier pennies are copper (except for WWII vintage steel pennies).
1983 and later pennies are plated zinc.
Choose accordingly.
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The cut-over was during the 1982 mintage. I don't know the split, but had told someone 1982 was copper for a "lucky penny" press. Found out the hard way that some are zinc. There is mention of the split on the mint web page.
Now I keep 1981 and before just out of general principle. They are at least made of a metal with some value.
Now I keep 1981 and before just out of general principle. They are at least made of a metal with some value.
Arik
Member
If its a little freckling just use some oil and 0000 steel wool
The "wheat cents" (1909-1958) are hard enough to find that you wouldn't want to use one that way. It should go in the grandkid's coin collection, and some have real value.
There isn't much in the 1959-1981 range of any collector value.
There isn't much in the 1959-1981 range of any collector value.
TenTea
Member
How about we stay *Gluten Free* + *Zinc Free* with 1969 to 1981.
Now, I'll have to weigh all of my 1982 pennies to weed out the zinc. HAHA!
How Can I Tell if My Penny Is a Copper or a Zinc Cent?
Question: Is My Penny a Copper, or a Zinc Cent?
Answer:
If your Lincoln Memorial penny has a date before 1982, it is made of 95% copper. If the date is 1983 or later, it is made of 97.5% zinc and plated with a thin copper coating.
For pennies minted in 1982, when both copper and zinc cents were made, the safest and best way to tell their composition is to weigh them. Copper pennies weigh 3.11 grams, whereas the zinc pennies weigh only 2.5 grams. Be sure to use a scale that is accurate enough to detect the tenth of a gram (0.10) or better. If you weigh a zinc penny on a scale that can only register full 1 gram increments, the penny will usually display 3 grams, since the scale rounds the 2.5 gram zinc penny upwards to 3. The wrong type of scale can be misleading when you are trying to sort copper and zinc pennies.
Drop Test for Copper and Zinc Pennies
If you don't have a tenth-gram scale handy, you can use the "drop" test. You need a hard Formica surface, a known copper penny, and a known zinc penny. Drop each one onto the table, listening to its distinctive sound. Zinc pennies have sort of a flat "clunk," whereas copper pennies have a higher-pitched, more melodious "ring" sound. Once you have a good feeling for how each type sounds, start dropping your 1982's one at a time, listening for the sound they make, and you should be able to sort them out by metal composition. Obviously, this test isn't as reliable as weighing them, but it should help you sort most of copper and zinc pennies.
Caution: Only use the drop test on circulating pennies where you are sorting copper and zinc for the bullion value only. Never drop collectible Uncirculated or Proof coins in this fashion to test them, since dropping pennies on a hard surface might cause minor damage that can make a collectible coin less valuable.
Cherrypicker's Tip - Watch out for "transitional" mint errors! "Transitional" errors occurred on the Lincoln Memorial Cents when the Mint accidentally used copper blanks for 1983 pennies. These "wrong stock" pennies weigh 3.1 grams, rather than the 2.5 of the zinc cents. If you find a copper 1983, it just might be worth... a pretty penny!
I like bronze wool.
I took a 4" piece of copper 1/2"ID tubing several years ago and mashed about 1/2 of it flat and use it as a scraper. It works well, and it was a scrap left over at no cost, not even a penny.
mjr
Member
I don't think they were ever all copper, but up through 1981 they were bronze; that is, copper with a small amount of tin added as a hardener.
goldenlight
Member
The WWII 'steel' pennies are actually made of zinc. Have you ever seen one that has oxidized? The oxidation is white.
If they were really 'steel', they would just rust.(Red).
TenTea
Member
I stand corrected...again, haha!
Yes, actually I have seen a *steel* penny oxidized white, come to think of it, but of course steel would not exhibit such.
Were there ever real steel pennies?
I guess if we stick with 1969-1981, the WWII pennies are a non-issue.
Personally, I'm saving nickels = 75% copper + 25% nickel
Today, the melt value is 5.1 cents!
1946-2014 Jefferson Nickel Melt Value - Coinflation
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