The 60's

[Teryble]

I have a couple of questions, if anyone would be nice enough to answer them!
Why are the 60's pennies (that i have anyways) in such good condition? Especially the color & appearance of the copper?
Also the reverse of the 70's some the lettering is really fat and others very thin?
Also the 80's, some appear to be copper and some are plated?
Specifically, what years are the difference and more valuable in the 70's-80's?
Thanks all, T

[Dick]

Teri, I'll comment on at least one of the ?'s.
s I'm sure you knoe of the change in alloy, in 1982, which brought in the zinc cents, which we use taday. In 1982, there are 7 varieries of cents, plus the proof. They are:
Denver, Large date, & small date, Zinc.(2). weight is 2.5 grams.
Denver, " " " " Copper.(2) weight is 3.11 grams.
"Philly", " " " " Zinc. (2). weight 2.5 grams 2.5 grams .
"Philly", Large date only, (1) weight 3.11 grams
From '83 on, all are zinc.
IMHO, the reason some "seem" to be copper, and others zinc, is probably the imperfections in the over-all making of the blanking strip-metal. Thus so many bubbles, warts, etc you see on them.
Any imperfection in the plating will start the "self-destruct" process, due to the entry of oxygen.
As far as your '60's, I would venture to say that thety were better protected that in other areas. It is conjecture at best. You are fortunate! I seem to find all those that appear to have been run thru a "rock-crusher"!
Dick

[eagames]

Like Dick said they started using plated zinc in mid 1982 so from then on they don't last as well and many have bumps in the plating or spots where the plating was bad.

Look at a 68 cent and see how bold (higher relief) Abe is, then look at a 69 cent and see how flat Abe is. You'll also notice that 68 was bold but mushy, that's because the master was worn out. In 69 they used a new master with less relief that's more flat but has better detail then as years passed it gets more mushy looking. In 73 they changed the reverse but only used that reverse in 73. The obv and rev designs change again in 1974 and there's 2 different designs used in 74. In 82 the same sort of thing happens again, the 82 and later zinc have less relief. I think that change was so the dies lasted better with zinc which is hard and crunchy compared to copper.

If you start to notice those changes you'll often know the year before looking at the date. They realy look different.

[Teryble]

Thanks guys! I knew you would not let me down! I am going to print out both of your info for reference!