Long term effects on zinc cents.

[coppercoins]

I have noticed over the years that the zinc cents from the 1980s seem to be more and more difficult to find by the roll, nd when I do find them they are usually spotty, lower grade coins. I also notice that finding the coins in pocket change tends to be a bit tougher than in the past. Is this because of:

1. more were saved by speculators
2. more went rotten and were tossed.
3. more turned up in the sewers than ended up in circulation
4. a combination of the above

My best guess is #4 - a lot of things have happened - the lowering value of the dollar, plating split on many of them exposing the zinc to the air and other elements, a lot of people couldn't care less about a cent any more - a lot of them are probably in parking lots, the grass, and the sewers...I wonder what everyone else here has seen and what they think about it?

Is it time now to try finding some of the higher grade zincs from the 80s and hang onto them? Are there still too many out there for it to make a difference? If so, will it ever make a difference?

[cladking]

Cents are saved in much higher numbers than other modern coins but compared to the staggering mintages this speculation is nearly inconsequential. The composition of the cent also is relatively unimportant. The primary way that its instability affects population is that there is a far lower retrieval rate for those which are physically lost. When a zinc cent is found there is a high chance that it will be in too poor shape to spend. After a few years in the ground a zinc cent will be unrecognizable in many cases. The major cause of loss is that these coins are simply discarded by many people. They are also often allowed to be lost. Spending effort on retrieving errant coins is often seen as a waste. Municipal incinerators return these coins by the truck load for redemption. The attrition rates have varied on these coins for many years, but generally it affects all the cents in circulation to the same degree regardless of date or composition.

Because of the high attrition most of the coins have long been of recent date. In the mid 80's there was a go go feel and it's possible that the attrition was higher because of the lesser concern for so low a denomination. Since most of the coins were recent this would have had a large impact on surviving populations of these dates.

My guess would be that the number of coins set aside drifted lower starting in the mid-'70's and this intensified with the introduction of zinc. The later date zincs have been gaining some pretty impressive premiums recently.

[coppercoins]

You really have a way with words, Cladking...would you like to write some articles for this site? I'd be glad to publish them. Get with me on it if you're interested and we can discuss some topics.

[cladking]

Thankyou Coppercoins. I find writing anything other than short essays to be tedious. It's also difficult to write about things unless they interest me quite a bit. Perhaps if something comes up that would interest me and the forum I'd give it a try.