Are copper pennies rare?

It is a well known fact that pennies minted from 1982 and back are made of 95% copper. These copper pennies are not rare at all.
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Is a copper penny worth anything?

Using Credit Cards as Nature Intended #629

It turns out all pennies with a date of 1981 or earlier were made from nearly pure copper, which means they are actually worth three times their face value - three cents. That probably isn't too impressive, but that's just the start.
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How much is a 100% copper penny worth?

6 That meant the copper in each penny was worth about 1.7 cents.
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What year is the copper penny rare?

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.
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Is a 1943 copper penny worth anything?

The Rare 1943 Penny

If your 1943 penny is made out of copper, it is worth quite a bit of money, generally $10,000 or more! The reason is that the 1943 copper penny is an error coin. The United States Mint accidentally used the wrong planchet metal when striking the coin.
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1982 Copper Penny Worth $10 000!



Why is a 1982 penny worth $10000?

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.
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Is a 1943 copper penny worth $1.7 million?

How Much Is A 1943 Copper Cent Worth? It's quite literally the million-dollar question! The all-time record price for a 1943 bronze cent is $1.7 million. This price was paid for the only known example of a 1943-D copper penny graded MS64BN by Professional Coin Grading Service.
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Are old pennies 100% copper?

The outside layers are three-quarters copper and one-quarter nickel, and the "filling" is solid copper. Pennies are made of zinc coated with copper. Only nickels are one solid material—that same 75% copper/25% nickel alloy.
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Can you sell copper pennies?

Not only is it illegal to scrap copper pennies or any US currency but it can come with a costly fine and a visit to prison. Many times scrap yards are asked by people if they take pennies or other coins for scrap.
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How common are copper pennies?

It is a well known fact that pennies minted from 1982 and back are made of 95% copper. These copper pennies are not rare at all.
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Is it legal to melt copper pennies?

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.
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What is the rarest penny?

The 1943 copper-alloy cent is one of the most enigmatic coins in American numismatics — and reportedly the most valuable Lincoln penny of all.
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Can you melt copper pennies?

Melting a penny made after 1982 would result in about 0.8613¢ in scrap metal, as of February 5, 2021 copper and zinc spot prices⁴ ⁵. Clearly these pennies aren't worth melting down.
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Are copper coins expensive?

Copper caskets are more expensive than steel or oak caskets, and far more expensive than biodegradable or "green" caskets. A copper casket costs roughly $3,000 on average. Some copper caskets, on the other hand, can cost $10,000 or more.
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How many 1943 copper pennies are left in the world?

At least 40 pieces of the 1943 copper penny came from the three mints. The mints were Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco. Today, the PCGS confirms a record of 27 1943 copper pennies. PCG has recorded 13 pieces.
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What pennies should I keep?

Here's a rundown of 10 of the most expensive pennies made since 1900:
  • 1909-S Indian Cent: $300 to $1,000+ ...
  • 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent: $600 to $1,300+ ...
  • 1914-D Lincoln Cent: $150 to $2,200+ ...
  • 1922 Plain Lincoln Cent: $500 to $10,500+ ...
  • 1931-S Lincoln Cent: $65 to $100+ ...
  • 1943 Bronze Lincoln Cent: $125,000+
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Is it good to save copper pennies?

Canadian copper pennies have a higher copper content at 98%, the balance being zinc and tin. Why should I save Copper Alloy cents/pennies? Some 1982 and all prior years are made with 95% copper. With copper at historic high prices, each of these coins are worth much more in actual metal content, than their face value.
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Are old pennies worth money?

In general, all Indian Head Pennies are worth at least $1 each, even in very worn condition, as long as they're not severely damaged. Be on the lookout for 1877 and 1909-S Indian head pennies. They are most valuable in any condition and are highly sought after by coin collectors.
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How do you tell if a penny is copper?

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.
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When was the last copper penny made?

The last year pennies were made from copper was 1982. While the best way to test a penny's composition is to weigh it, you can test them by dropping them on a hard surface.
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When did we stop making copper pennies?

These days, pennies are made out of mostly zinc. The metal inside is worth about one cent. But before 1982, they were mostly copper.
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What year penny is worth $1000000?

1943-S Lincoln Cent Sells for $1 Million.
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Why is the 1943 penny worth $1000000?

The 1943 penny is worth $1 000 000 because it is not made of steel. In 1943, the US Mint switched from copper to steel to make pennies. However, the mints accidentally made a few pennies with bronze planchets instead of steel planchets coated with zinc. These pennies are now worth a lot of money because they are rare.
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What is the most expensive copper penny?

S Lincoln Penny – $105,800

More than 4 million of them were minted at the San Francisco mint. This coin is valuable because of its excellent condition despite being more than 100 years old. There is no noticeable bag mark on the coin's surface, and it has retained its original bright copper colour.
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