It's supposed to weigh 2.5 grams with a +/- tolerance of .10 making the normal range 2.40-2.60. While it is slightly over weight, it generally has to be very under or very over to command a premium. It could be a slightly thicker rolled planchet (if your scale is accurate and calibrated) to explain why it is a little heavy. It could be worth a little more to a collector but don't quit your job.
I'm new in searching pennies and I like to know if penny is different. You could answer my question but not ask for another question. Be better guy for people are new in searching coins.
Actually it would be 3.10 grams which is the weight of a copper penny. Since the 1983's are supposed to be zinc, several 1983 cents have turned up on copper (3.1g) instead of zinc and are very valuable. If yours weighed a little more, (2.9 lets say) it could be a copper cent on a thinly rolled planchet, unlikey for a zinc cent to weigh 2.9.
Pictures are blurry. If there is a break in the surface and you can see the zinc, OK. Otherwise you would have to get it tested for copper. Which would be a valuable coin.
I think it is a misconception that the tolerances on a zinc lincoln cent is .010 gram ( someone years ago figured it was a percentage figure and just multiplied). but it is a Legal tolerance and that hasn't been changed unless someone has real info. Here is the law in 1988 on Cornell's Law site. I have continued using 0.13+/- and if It has been changed, I would appreciate it. Even some coin verification sites have it as 2.5+/-0.10. No Biggie, but I want to be accurate, Jim https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/31/5113
I wasn't pointing it out that way, as that coin would have been out anyway, I really wanted to know if something had changed recently as I have found several posts of 3 different website forums that use the .10 gram for their tolerance. Jim
I found an 83 penny as well that was heavier than my zinc pennies but lighter than my copper pennies. Any thoughts?
I'll have to get a scale and get back to you on that one. I was just curious if there was an experimental zinc planchet that may have been used. I found a similar 1984. They both have a different sound (ring when dropped) as both a copper and a zinc penny as well. (Sorry I'm a novice, and I know that probably makes some of you cringe)
No way my friend. That's why we are here. To help you learn. The only thing that makes us cringe is when someone states to us "You don't know anything and you're wrong" Peace
I have a 1983 D penny that is a silvery metallic material, not copper or copper looking. Has anyone seen one of these or know anything about them?