95% Copper pennies (Price Per Pound)

Buy Pre-1983 U.S. Minted Copper Pennies

Money Metals Exchange is pleased to offer copper United States pennies minted before 1983 at prices very close to melt value. These copper pennies are universally recognized and accepted, making them ideal for barter and trade. The very low premium to melt value makes them an excellent investment vehicle for copper. You can compare these coins to their silver equivalence, quarters or dimes before 1965, otherwise known as "junk" silver. Copper for sale on Money Metals is of great value and a collector's piece that many people love. Check out real copper pennies!

History of the Copper Penny

The US Mint produced Lincoln pennies, aka the "Lincoln cent," a coin equalling one cent, in 95% pure copper from 1909 - 1982. The switch from 95% copper pennies to 95% zinc pennies occurred around September to October 1982. Some 1982 pennies are not 95% copper as the U.S. government and Mint changed the metal content halfway through the year.

However, Money Metals ensures that any 1982-dated pennies included in our bags are the 95% copper version - which weighs heavier than the non-copper ones.

Copper Penny Values

We can see the value deterioration of pennies in the U.S. throughout history through today. Whereas the face value may still say it is one cent, the worth of metal is certainly less today. Pennies from 1856 to 1864 were made with 88% copper and 12% nickel, including the Flying Eagle cent and the Indian Head cent.

Copper pennies, originally pure copper, switched to zinc-covered steel in wartime 1943. Since 1982, U.S. pennies are mainly zinc, retaining only a 2.5% copper composition.

Different Types of Copper Pennies

The classical Lincoln Penny obverse (heads) bears the image of the 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln pennies come in two designs on the reverse (tails). "Wheat pennies" were copper cents featuring wheat ears and were minted from 1909 - 1958, and were replaced by the Lincoln Memorial.

You will likely notice that pre-1983 pennies are of heavier weight and have a darker color, while the surface of newer pennies is lighter and has a brighter copper color. Older Lincoln pennies have the initials of engraver VDB on the obverse, which stands for Victor David Brenner. On the back of the Lincoln Memorial penny are the initials FG, which stands for Frank Gasparro, who was the engraver of that penny. The mints that predominantly produced pennies in the United States include Denver (D), San Francisco (S), and Philadelphia (No mint mark).

Newer penny coinage has on the front a bust of Lincoln, the year, the mint mark, "In God We Trust," and "Liberty." On the back of the penny are "United States of America," "E Pluribus Unum," and, "One Cent," draped over a Liberty shield. There are also the initials LB which stands for Lyndall Bass who was the Associate Designer of the Shield Penny (as it is currently called). Additionally included are the initials JFM which stands for the Shield Penny's sculptor-engraver Joseph F. Menna.

Copper Penny Collecting

For quite some time, it was popular for coin collectors, copper-conscious investors, and people, in general, to buy a collection of decent condition rolls or boxes of older pennies for their copper melt value for investing purposes.

Copper, being a semi-precious metal, is a decent hedge against inflation, helping a person create a real sense of savings for financial security, retirement, or to pass the change on in the future to their children, family, and friends.

Some people collect copper pennies to be able to cash in on the melt value later to help pay bills such as their college or education, to pay for the random things life throws at them, or for the happiness obtained in their relationships. No matter why people decide to invest in copper pennies, it is typically a success.

When you invest in a bag of pre-1983 copper pennies, each dollar face value (100 coins) contains approximately 0.65 lbs of copper content... (Copper Penny) Check out all our copper for sale today!

If you're interested in affordable silver coins, check out "Junk" Silver Dimes and Quarters on Money Metals. We also offer junk silver in Silver Half Dollars. Most U.S. silver coins struck in 1964 or earlier were minted with 90% silver and 10% copper.

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