How much is a real copper penny worth?

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.

Is there a 100% copper penny?

With the exception of 2009 bicentennial cents minted specifically for collectors, United States cents minted after 1982 have been zinc with copper plating.

How much is a copper penny worth now?

$0.0270463 is the melt value for the 1909-1982 copper cent on February 14, 2023.

What is a 1943 copper penny worth?

The 1943 copper pennies are one of the most valuable ones. At auctions, the average price of a 1943 copper penny ranges from as low as $100,000 to $250,000 in average condition. At PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service), the graded 1943 copper penny can be valued from $1 million to $1.5 million.

How much is a copper penny worth in scrap?

Each 1¢ penny is worth approximately 2.3860¢ in scrap metal.

2021. Now that we know how much “revenue” we can get per penny, we need to figure out how much it would cost to obtain that revenue. In other words: how much does it cost to melt down the penny?

How to Make Money Collecting Copper Pennies

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.

Can I melt down pennies and sell the copper?

Pennies and nickels contain copper, zinc, and other metals that are of great monetary value. It is because of this that melting down these metals for the sole intention of selling to offshore or local metal scraping industries is illegal.

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.

What year copper penny is 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.

Are copper pennies worth keeping?

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.

What pennies are 95% copper?

It is a well known fact that pennies minted from 1982 and back are made of 95% copper.

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.

What is the oldest penny?

America's first one-cent piece, called the "large cent," was first struck in 1793, one year after the Mint opened. It was so big that it was hard to use, but it wasn't replaced by a smaller penny until 1857, more than 50 years later.

Are wheat pennies worth anything?

“There are millions and millions of wheat pennies and most commonly they trade for three-to-five cents a piece. If you're looking for a particular date, it can be much, much more than that. The rarest is the 1909 VDB. Those can be worth anywhere from $700 to $1,500 depending on the coin's grade.

What pennies should I keep?

How can you tell if a penny is pure 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.

What are the 15 most valuable pennies?

What if I have a 1943 copper penny?

All the 1943 copper pennies from the Denver mint will sell for many dollars. At a G-4 rating, it can sell for at least 100,000 USD. You'll earn around 150,000 USD if the coin is in a fine state. PCGS rates them as having the best price of 1.5 million dollars in their highest mint state.

What penny sold $1000000?

Here's a rare 1943 Lincoln penny: The coin was mistakenly struck in bronze rather than zinc-coated steel, one has just sold for $1 million. Do we have any coin collectors out there? Susan Adams and 14,327 others like this.

What penny is worth $1000000?

Simpson, co-chairman of the Texas Rangers baseball club, paid $1 million for the finest known 1943-S Lincoln Wheat cent on a bronze planchet. All 1943 Lincoln cents were supposed to be made of steel planchets coated with zinc. However, some bronze planchets left over from 1942 slipped into the production process.

What are the 5 most valuable pennies?

Should I clean pennies before selling?

Generally, it is better to leave your antique metal currency alone than it is to try and erase all the grime and grit off of those coins. Cleaning or polishing rare coins devalues them. So, if you're planning on selling them, get an appraisal before attempting to clean your coins.

What does vinegar do to copper pennies?

When copper is exposed to oxygen, it forms molecules called copper oxide that make pennies look dirty. Pouring vinegar over the pennies helps break up this copper oxide and expose the pure copper on the penny. As the penny dries and is exposed to the air, a chemical reaction occurs and the penny turns green!

Do scrap yards take 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.