Copper

Rick Uldricks · Post by **Rick Uldricks** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:03 pm

deleted

Tim Liston · Post by **Tim Liston** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:54 pm

Don't laugh. Pennies minted before 1982 are all copper and are worth about 2.7 cents apiece now, for their copper value. After 1982 they are mostly zinc. In 1982 they minted both. Remembering the "silver rush" in the late 70's early 80's, I've been saving all the pre-1982 pennies that have received since 1982. I have well over 100 pounds of copper pennies now. I can't move the barrel without breaking it. But I think they are illegal to melt.

Tim Liston · Post by **Tim Liston** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:02 am

Copper hit a record $4 a pound this week and is still climbing. China is buying it all up. A copper (pre 1982) penny is now worth almost three cents. Pretty soon it will be difficult to find such pennies in circulation.

When I travel with the family, and we see one of those "squish penny" machines, we alway press one. For that I like to use all copper because no zinc shows through after being pressed. Lately, hunting down a copper penny on the spur of the moment has proven difficult.

By the way, the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln cent is next year. And we're in for a design change. There will be a new obverse, and four different reverses.