[Jack Black]

Only pre-1981 pennies are made of copper.
Post ‘81 they are made of zinc mostly.
There are 141 pre-81 pennies to the pound.
That works out to about three cents in melt value.
($0.028 each)

[rickomatic]

Only pre-1981 pennies are made of copper. Post ‘81 they are made of zinc mostly. There are 141 pre-81 pennies to the pound. That works out to about three cents in melt value. ($0.028 each)

Actually both copper and zinc pennies were made in 1982. Either do a drop test for sound, or weigh them on a gram scale.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Yes, I know.

[Jack Black]

Oh, yeah, if the treasury hadn't decided to couterfit pennies in 1981 (ie: make the zinc look almost exactly like the copper ones) it would be easy to sell the old ones for scrap. $1,411. of pennies would get you $4,000. Not a bad profit.

But because the zinc pennies are perfect forgeries there is no easy way for a scrap metal dealer to know what they are getting.

I think some private mints are starting to make copper coins now that an oz of Silver is almost $30 bucks that makes sense. (And they have already started minting 1/2 and 1/4 oz silver coins too.)

$4.00, for a 1 troy oz coin. (1 pound = 14.583 Troy Oz)

[2001convSVT]

Only pre-1981 pennies are made of copper.
Post ‘81 they are made of zinc mostly.
There are 141 pre-81 pennies to the pound.
That works out to about three cents in melt value.
($0.028 each)

And in 2012 pennies will be made of copper colored plastic.