FREE: 60% OFF CENTER LINCOLN CENT - 1??? DATE - ERROR CENT - STOCK # 012

It's not just the mint its more like our entire government =)... They sure don't make things like they used too huh?

I'm not 100% sure how to tell as I am new to coin collecting. Maybe someone with more knowledge can chime in. I did a google search and pasted below what I could find. Hope this helps!

A copper penny is made of 95% copper whereas a zinc penny is made of 97.50% zinc. Currently, a copper penny is worth 3 cents in copper bullion. There are three ways to tell the difference.

Weigh the Penny

The most accurate way to test is to weigh them. A copper penny ways 3.11 grams and a zinc penny weighs 2.5 grams. However, if you're like me and you don't have a scale that accurate their are two other ways to tell.

Check the Date on the Penny

The first is the date. The mint changed from copper to zinc in 1982. So, all penny's made before then are copper and all after are zinc. But what do you do for those made in 1982?

Perform the Penny Drop Test

There's one other test, it's called "the drop test."You'll need two penny's a know copper penny and a known zinc penny. Just check the dates to make sure. There is a subtle difference in sound between the two. Here's the copper penny. And here's the zinc penny.

You'll have to drop them several times before you can tell the difference but eventually your ear will hear it.

Do you know if it is copper or zinc? I'm trying to narrow down what year it might be.
If it's copper it would be anywhere from 1959 to 1982
If it's zinc it would be anywhere from 1982 to 1999
Either way it's a very cool error coin, great auction!!

I don't blame you on the drop test. I'm not even sure it would work since the shape is different than a normal penny. Here is a link to the website I got the info from.

http://video.about.com/coins/Differences-Between-a-Copper-and-Zinc-Penny.htm