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Jimnight

.

ColonelJessup

If it were a 1944, I would find a way to live with it

OldEastside

Time will tell

Steve

BillJones

The copper plating is very thin, and the zinc under it is very reactive as a metal, so yes. There is greater chance of those coins going bad than any of the classic coinage metals, copper, silver and gold. Even nickel is more stable than zinc.

This issue came up recently on a guess the grade string about the 1983 doubled die reverse cent.

ctf_error_coins

That is why I prefer my modern cents to be struck on dimes or dime planchets.

carabonnair

If only the mint would use bronze instead of copper-plated zinc for the one cent pieces in proof sets. I would even consider paying the extra two cents

FredWeinberg

EOC - that's funny !

(and I agree)

Jimnight

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cameonut2011

Yes, I think many of the Zincolns are ticking time bombs.

ricko

Yep.. the zincolns are planned obsolescence .... better save some in a nitrogen filled container for future years... Cheers, RickO

metalmeister

Thank the Zinc lobbyists.

BillDugan1959

I have a number of zinc cents that are 50% eaten up - it's not just being dropped in the dirt, but zincers that are dropped in parking lots that are a combination of snow, ice and melting salt go very fast too.

jmlanzaf

Actually, the 1943 steel cents tell you all you need to know about corrosion in even moderately moist environments for the zinc cents today. What percentage of them do you see that have ZERO black spots? Zinc is even worse than the steel.

If you are young enough, you might consider storing some high grade modern cents in a dry nitrogen atmosphere for 30 years. You will likely have condition rarities down the line...if anyone cares to collect modern cents 30 years from now.

Tunis

Does this also pertain to proof cents that are already in PCGS holders?

Tunis

Double post

cameonut2011

@Tunis said:
Does this also pertain to proof cents that are already in PCGS holders?

Yes. PCGS's guarantee excepts environmental deterioration in the slab.

cameonut2011

@Tunis - I am assuming you are referring to the Zinc proof coins.

cameonut2011

@jmlanzaf said:
Actually, the 1944 steel cents tell you all you need to know about corrosion in even moderately moist environments for the zinc cents today. What percentage of them do you see that have ZERO black spots? Zinc is even worse than the steel.

If you are young enough, you might consider storing some high grade modern cents in a dry nitrogen atmosphere for 30 years. You will likely have condition rarities down the line...if anyone cares to collect modern cents 30 years from now.

I think you meant 1944 copper cents or 1943 zinc plated steel cents. Steel cents from 1944 are exceptionally rare (maybe 2-3 dozen total), and the sample size would be too limited to base anything on.

Jimnight

.

jmlanzaf

@cameonut2011 said:

@jmlanzaf said:
Actually, the 1944 steel cents tell you all you need to know about corrosion in even moderately moist environments for the zinc cents today. What percentage of them do you see that have ZERO black spots? Zinc is even worse than the steel.

If you are young enough, you might consider storing some high grade modern cents in a dry nitrogen atmosphere for 30 years. You will likely have condition rarities down the line...if anyone cares to collect modern cents 30 years from now.

I think you meant 1944 copper cents or 1943 zinc plated steel cents. Steel cents from 1944 are exceptionally rare (maybe 2-3 dozen total), and the sample size would be too limited to base anything on.

sorry, typo