The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 6, February 6, 2005, Article 16

STINKY ZINCIES

The Chicago Tribune article on elongated cents includes a
term I hadn't heard before: "stinky zincies":

"Ever press a penny and it corrodes, turning black? That's
because modern pennies since 1983 are 97.5 percent zinc,
which darkens when exposed to the elements. Elongate
collectors call these cents "stinky zincies" and prefer to
press pre-1983 pennies to produce sparkly, bright
specimens. Copper can also oxidize, however; look at
the Statue of Liberty."

[Actually, it's since 1982, and even some of the 1982s
are made of zinc -- you have to weigh the coins to tell the
difference.

Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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