answersLogoWhite

0

Cents were made of copper during most of the period from 1792 to 1982, not just 1950 onward. Yes, the copper in pre-1982 cents is worth more than face value but not enough to make it profitable to melt them. You would need a VERY large number of coins and even so, the costs of melting, selling, etc. would eat up most or all of the profit. Also, for what it's worth, in numismatic terms the wheat ears are considered to be a design rather than a symbol. At the end of 2007 copper was selling for $3.00/pound. A pre-1982 penny weighs 3.11 grams (97.5% of which is copper) It takes about 148 of these pennies to make a pound. This is based on a pound being equal to 454 grams.

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

How much money 47 pounds of pennies worth?

No way to answer, because there are at least 2 common types of US pennies. There are approximately 145 copper pennies in a pound.There are approximately 181 copper plated zinc pennies in a pound.


What s pennies are worth money?

A 1943 copper penny is known to be worth a lot of money,


How much money are the 1947 copper pennies worth?

Average value is 2 to 3 cents.


Why do pennies have zinc in them?

Pennies are made of zinc with a thin copper plating to reduce cost. This change was made in 1982 to save money, as zinc is cheaper than the bronze used previously. The copper plating gives pennies their traditional color and appearance.


What is american money made of?

The dollar bills are made of cotton and linen, despite the fact that we call it paper money. Pennies are zinc coated with copper. Nickels, quarters, and dimes are a mix of nickel and copper.


What is the best to remove copper from pennies?

A common method to remove copper from pennies is to soak them in vinegar or a vinegar-salt solution. Another method is to use a mix of lemon juice and salt. Additionally, commercial cleaners like ketchup or lemon juice may also help remove tarnish from copper pennies.


How much money is the most expensive penny worth?

1.7 Million dollars, that was what a collector recently paid for a 1943 copper penny made at the Denver mint, the only known 1943 copper penny struck there (keep in mind that the 1943 pennies were struck in steel, the copper 1943 pennies are errors).


Why are pennies not made of copper?

Pennies are currently made mostly of zinc with a thin copper coating. This change was made in the early 1980s to save money, as zinc is cheaper than copper. The copper coating gives the penny its traditional appearance.


Are pennies rocks?

No Pennies are money.


How much does 300 pennies equal in money?

In the UK 300 pennies = 3 pounds


Why are new pennies magnetic but old one not?

What country are you talking about? New U.S. cents are not magnetic; they're made of copper-plated zinc. The only magnetic U.S. cents were the steel ones minted during 1943 so copper could be used in ammunition. New Canadian cents and British pennies are magnetic because they're made of copper-plated steel. The price of copper went up so much that it cost more than a penny to mint the coins, so the governments were losing money on each one. They switched to steel as a cheaper alternative.


Why does soda clean pennies?

Soda contains citric acid which has a mild cleaning property, making it effective at removing dirt and tarnish from pennies. The acid helps to dissolve the grime and oxidation coating on the surface of the pennies, revealing the shiny metal underneath.