save your pocket change

Nice information. I currently have a small hoard of 82 or older pennies. At least weigh in i had a bit over 300 pounds.

It's a fun hobby, that's for sure. Plus you get a lot of REALLY old coins. I'm a fan of the wheaties. Plus i like the look on the bank ladies face when i go in with $25 and ask for a box of pennies.

Which reminds me, i need to do that tomorrow. Thanks! Haha.

Hoss do you get pennies for copper or to collect them

Little bit of both, skip. Mainly for the copper. But i've always been a coin collector. If i run into something cool i throw it in another bucket. It's a fun hobby.

Plus, if the chit ever hits the fan, you have something to trade thats worth actual melt value.

Yeah, i'm one of those "doomsday nuts".

My grandfather tried to get me into coins but it didnt stick and some is brewing in this world and its bound to blow.

Originally Posted by ParkerFlyer4

It is illegal to melt U.S currency. but some people like to hoard their change that holds more value from the metal its made with. Pennies, for example, have the potential to become obsolete in the near future, and could possibly be melted or sold for copper. Anyway, I've made a list of the specific years that money holds more value in metal than face value. calculated when copper was at $3.85 lb and silver was $32.64 oz.

Penny ---- 1982 or older - 95% copper, 5% zinc//// $0.01 face, $0.025 melt

Nickel --- 1942 -1945 -35% silver, 56% copper, 9% Mang//// $0.05 face, $1.86 melt

Dime ----- 1946 -1964 - 90% silver, 10% copper//// $0.10 face, $2.36 melt

Quarter --- 1932 -1964 - 90% silver, 10% copper//// $0.25 face, $5.90 melt

Half Dollar - 1948 -1964 - 90% silver, 10% copper//// $0.50 face, $11.81 melt
- 1965 -1974 - 40% silver, 60% copper//// $0.50 face, $10.45 melt

That's cool info PF4! it only covers 3 years of nickels, a few more years of dimes, and no silver dollars. I'd sure like to see it on a bit more expanded scale

I only covered the years that the metal amount exceeds the face value of the coin. All other years are best used as face value. except, of course, older rare coins.

http://www.wikihow.com/Hoard-Copper-Pennies

Here's a good informational page on hoarding pennies. Pretty helpful.

Mods, if i'm not allowed to put this up here please delete my post and let me know. Still a bit unsure as too the website linking thing. Thanks

Thanks! Parker Thanks too! Mechanic, that's a cool site Several months ago at Mom's she said she'd like to know about her coins (where she goes for senior lunch and socializing, they'd been talking about them) and I started searching for their current values. This info woulda been lotsa help, wished I had known it then, would've been the first place I'd looked ; )

I think current nickels melt exceeds face.

Originally Posted by ParkerFlyer4

I only covered the years that the metal amount exceeds the face value of the coin. All other years are best used as face value. except, of course, older rare coins.

There are also pennies that are more rare to find... I know that they stopped using copper after 82 but they say that there are a couple of 83's that were actually stamped onto a copper slug (or whatever you call the metal before it's a coin). The way that you can tell them apart is by the weight- the copper pennies weigh 3.11 grams and the ones that were made with the zinc weigh 2.5 grams. I'm a weirdo, I like coins. I collect the ones that i think are cool more so then what i am supposed to though. I have one of those state quarter collections that my Grandma started for me and i'm like 5 or 6 away from having all of them in both mints!

Originally Posted by ParkerFlyer4

your right with the Kennedy half dollars. They made Eisenhower silver dollars from 1971 - 1976 with 40% silver 60% copper
ill edit it.

The Eisenhower silver dollars were not really in circulation, doesn't mean that they could not be, but finding a silver one in circulation would be a rarity.

http://www.realcent.org/

Good information here as well including buyers of pre-1982 pennies.

They even have a small section on scrapping.

I use the coinflation website also. Is a quick and easy reference. My daughters and I do coin roll searching many times during the winter. You think the lady gives you a look at 1 box. Try when you ask for 6 or 8 boxes of pennies at a time. I had to place orders with the bank as if I was a merchant. People use to hate getting behind me at the coinstar. $150 - $200 in pennies is heavy and takes a ton of time to count.

It does pay off - oldest daughter found a indian head penny in good shape. Not counting the wheat / canadian pennies we find.