One square foot of Lincoln cents.

[Petespockets55]

This topic came up on another thread and thought I'd share the info here.

Two common ways to put cents into a square 12"x12".


Method "A"- 1 foot square area = 16 cents x 16 cents (equal number of rows and columns)
256 cents in 1 square foot



Method "B"- 1 square foot area = 16 cents x 18.5 cents(+-) (Successive rows staggered)
296 cents in 1 square foot

(Method "B" requires about 15.6% more cents to cover the same area.)

Now you can plan and save for those copper projects you've been dreaming of.

[VAB2013]

Cool thing Cliff! I'm a fan of Method B, but what to do about the uneven edges, just leave it blank? All kinds of ideas have run through my head for a copper back splash, table top, floor....

[mustbebob]

Interesting. Have you figured out how many in a square foot yet? I would, but math makes my cranium hurt.

[makecents]

That makecents Cliff!! I noticed you worked your blue/green crater coin in there!!

[Petespockets55]

Cool thing Cliff! I'm a fan of Method B, but what to do about the uneven edges, just leave it blank? All kinds of ideas have run through my head for a copper back splash, table top, floor....

Viv, you can cut cents to fill in the border, use a "pencil" moulding or use a modern metal border for tile.

Interesting. Have you figured out how many in a square foot yet? I would, but math makes my cranium hurt.

Funny you should ask Bob. Method "A" is 256 cents.
Method "b" is 296 cents.

That makecents Cliff!! I noticed you worked your blue/green crater coin in there!!

Jon, not intentional at first but since it showed up in the group shot and did a photo "bomb", I hid it plain site in the method image

[mustbebob]

Funny you should ask Bob. Method "A" is 256 cents.
Method "b" is 296 cents.

I'm sorry....I meant a 12" x 12" cube Cliff. That's twice this year already I screwed up

[Petespockets55]

Bob, we'll forgive you since it's so late in the year.

A cube, hmmmmm. Interesting question. Lets see?

A Lincoln is 1.52 mm thick ...................... 12" divided by 1.52mm = 200.5 layers of Lincoln's. (Circulated Lincoln's will probably have some wear so another reason to round up.)

Method "A" - 201 layers x 256 = 51,546 Lincoln's
(Zinc) 51,549 x 2.5 g = 128,873 g (284 lb, 1.86 oz)
(Copper) 51,549 x 3.1 g = 159,802 g (352 lb, 4.85 oz)

Method 'B" - 201 layers x 296 = 59,496 Lincoln's
(Zinc) 59,496 x 2.5 g = 148,740 g (327 lb, 14.65 oz)
(Copper) 59,496 x 3.1 g = 184,438 g (406 lb, 9.86 oz)





(BTW- The discussion with myself went something like this.
...... "Don't do it."
...... "Why not? Most everyone is probably watching snow fall and are looking for a distraction."
..... "Well since you put it that way. OK!
And as a bonus I avoid all those "distracting" home projects!)

[mustbebob]

I just checked all your numbers and quite frankly, I wouldn't know if they were right or wrong. Being that it is the Holiday season, Who am I to argue?

[Petespockets55]

I just checked all your numbers and quite frankly, I wouldn't know if they were right or wrong. Being that it is the Holiday season, Who am I to argue?

I was picturing a cube of Lincoln's and then trying to visually lift it off my desk and wondering how much it would weigh?

T'is the season for 'nog, so maybe time for a Sunday 'nog brunch?

[jfines69]

Very interesting... So now - How many pennies in 1 cubic yard??? How many cubic yards would it take to resurface the entire living space within an average home (1 coin deep) for each method or a 50/50 combination??? If the patterns were all the same that might get old quick like the shields