I have found a lot of newer pennies that i find are badly corroded and eaten away. My oldest coin to date was a 1888 indian head penny and i was very dissapointed to see that about 1/4 of the top was eaten away also. I was just curious as to what causes this. My first guess would be acid rain, but thats all it is is a guess. Does anyone know what causes this, and what do you do with all those BAD PENNIES. I was thinking of tossing them in the in the trash.
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Bad pennies!
- Thread starter jerkyboy
- Start date
The newer pennies have Zinc in them as of 1982. The zinclincolns will erode very quickly. I really dislike finding eaten up new pennies.
The IH was probably eaten up by the minerals in the soil you found it in. The type of soil has a lot to do with how well coins are preserved. The more minerials the more the old coins get chewed up.
As to what to do with the "bad pennies" I really am not sure. Good luck I hope you find out what to do with them, Beale.
The IH was probably eaten up by the minerals in the soil you found it in. The type of soil has a lot to do with how well coins are preserved. The more minerials the more the old coins get chewed up.
As to what to do with the "bad pennies" I really am not sure. Good luck I hope you find out what to do with them, Beale.
Larry (IL)
Well-known member
If I'm not mistaken Bugg, I think a law was passed to make that illegal. Otherwise all cents, zinc and copper as well as nickels would be melted down.
BarberBill
New member
Don't know what to do with the really bad ones. Might get a way with hiding one or two per roll when turning them in. Another cause for the deterioration, I believe, is the fertilizers used in city parks etc.
HH
Bill
HH
Bill
The bank might "exchange" them, but if not the nearest Federal Reserve Bank should. They will replace damaged bills, so I would assume they will replace damaged coins, too.
The damage is NOT from acid rain. It is from the natural mineralization in the ground, the normal acid levels depending on your location. Zinc is highly corrosive and will get eaten away just about anywhere, but copper will last longer depending on your soil conditions.
The damage is NOT from acid rain. It is from the natural mineralization in the ground, the normal acid levels depending on your location. Zinc is highly corrosive and will get eaten away just about anywhere, but copper will last longer depending on your soil conditions.
Chris(SoCenWI)
Well-known member
I just toss all the corroded Zinkies. I know some people who toss all clad pennies. I just dump them in soapy water and swirl for a few minutes, then dump in a coinstar machine. Larger denomination clad clean a little better and bring to the bank. I do believe the bank would replace corroded zincs but is it worth the effort. Seeing how every store has a take a penny- leave a penny, they are considered free. Wish they would stop making them.
As far as older coins being corroded has much to do with soil conditions. Generally well drained sandy soil treats coins the best, clay soil that holds water is the worst. And yes modern fertilizers will wreak havoc with copper based coins.
Chris
As far as older coins being corroded has much to do with soil conditions. Generally well drained sandy soil treats coins the best, clay soil that holds water is the worst. And yes modern fertilizers will wreak havoc with copper based coins.
Chris
I use CoinStar for all my coins, Its a coin counting machine in some local super markets, Or go to coinstar.com
to find the closest one to you, It will take some Bad ones but not all, It will charge you 9% off your totel
thats $9 on $100,00 saves time , Evear sense the Banks turned me away on my Dirty coins i go too
CoinStar??????????????? MickFin
to find the closest one to you, It will take some Bad ones but not all, It will charge you 9% off your totel
thats $9 on $100,00 saves time , Evear sense the Banks turned me away on my Dirty coins i go too
CoinStar??????????????? MickFin
Gadget Guru
New member
Our club takes collects all those bad defaced pennies and turns them over to a friend (bank) that pays by the weight instead of the face value. A check is written (no fees) in about 5-6 weeks and our club uses the money towards our annual hunt! 
Fertilizer is one of the main causes of deterioration.
HH
Fertilizer is one of the main causes of deterioration.
HH