How much is a true copper penny worth?

4 It contains about 2.95 grams of copper, and there are 453.59 grams in a pound. 5 The price of copper on Dec. 10, 2019, was $2.75 a pound. 6 That meant the copper in each penny was worth about 1.7 cents.

Is there a 100% copper penny?

A penny is not what you think. Indeed, from 1793 to 1837, a cent was pure copper. But newer pennies are made mostly of zinc. Here’s the history, according to the U.S.

Which pennies are real copper?

So for the past 30 years, pennies have been made with an alloy comprised of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper, but pennies minted before 1982 are 95% copper and 5% zinc. The price of copper has more than quadrupled over the past 10 years. So a penny produced before 1982 is worth 2.2 cents based on the metal it contains.

How much is a real 1943 copper penny worth?

How Much is it Worth? At PCGS the 1943 and 1943-S copper pennies are valued at $1 million each, while the 1943-D is listed at $1.5 million. But for a coin this rare, actual sales from auctions or private sales (when available) are the best measure of value, especially as these coins rarely come up for sale.

Is it legal to melt pennies for copper?

It is not illegal to melt, form, destroy, or otherwise modify US coins, including pennies, unless the objective is fraudulent or with the intent of selling the raw materials of the coins for profit. Projects that use coins as materials are entirely legal in the United States.

Are there any 1983 copper pennies?

If your Lincoln Memorial penny has a date before 1982, it is made of 95% copper. If the date is 1983 or later, it is made of 97.5% zinc and plated with a thin copper coating.

How do you tell if a 1982 penny is copper or zinc?

If your Lincoln Memorial penny has a date before 1982, it is made of 95% copper. If the date is 1983 or later, it is made of 97.5% zinc and plated with a thin copper coating. For pennies dated 1982, when both copper and zinc cents were made, and best way to determine their composition is to weigh them.

How can you tell if a 1943 copper penny is real?

The easiest way to determine if a 1943 cent is made of steel, and not copper, is to use a magnet. If it sticks to the magnet, it is not copper. If it does not stick, the coin might be of copper and should be authenticated by an expert.

Is a 1983 D penny rare?

There’s a rare 1983 copper penny (a 1983-D penny) worth $15,000 — you could find one in your pocket change! Here’s what to look for + Other rare copper pennies.

How can you tell if a 1983 D penny is copper?

How rare is a 1982 small date copper penny?

The 1982-P Small Date copper Lincoln cent is one of the most difficult memorial cents to find in high grade condition. They are scarce even in MS64 and MS65 grades. It is one of the most difficult varieties to find in high grade out of all seven different varieties of this date.