It depends on its date.
Modern (mid-1982 to the present) cents are 97.5% zinc with only a thin coating of copper that's worth maybe 1/30 of a cent.
The copper in bronze-composition US cents (up to mid-1982) is in fact worth about 1.5¢ to 1.8¢ at current market prices, but (a) it's illegal to melt them for scrap and (b) even if melting were legal, you'd only be paid wholesale prices which wouldn't cover your collection and transportation costs. Also, because they're made of bronze, not pure copper, whoever bought them would have to separate out the different metals during the smelting process.
On the other hand, many BUT NOT ALL older-date cents can be worth more to a collector. The range of values is extremely wide, from a nickel for a worn version of a common coin all the way up to many tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for a particularly rare date.
It's worth two cents for the copper. They made more than a billion of them.
A penny may be worth more than its face value when it is a rare collectible coin, particularly if it has unique features, historical significance, or is in excellent condition. Certain pennies, like the 1943 copper penny or the 1909-S V.D.B. penny, can fetch hundreds or thousands of dollars among collectors. Additionally, the value of a penny can increase based on demand and market trends within the numismatic community.
There has been talk of eliminating the US penny for many years. Before they switched from the bronze alloy penny to the copper clad zinc penny it cost about 3 cents to mint every penny. Even the copper clad zinc penny costs more than a penny to mint. Of all standard issue US coinage only the nickel (5¢) and the penny cost more than their face value to mint.
Two pennIes
the penny is worth more then ant other coin because it is now done being made due to its age
A solid copper penny is worth more than one cent. This has been true for a long time, and is why modern pennies are made primarily of zinc, and only plated with copper. In currency they are about up to par, but in scrap metal, who knows, you may be able to get more bang for your buck.
It's worth two cents for the copper. They made more than a billion of them.
Just a little more than $0.01... It actually costs the government more than a penny to make a penny, but it's only like a quarter of a cent difference. Any pennies minted before 1982 are solid bronze (95% copper), and are worth more in scrap than newer ones.
The materials used to make the penny were changed in 1982 from 95% copper to 97.5% zinc with a thin copper plating to reduce production costs. Copper prices had risen, making it more expensive to produce the coin with its previous composition.
any copper penny is worth more than its face value.
A 2000 zinc penny without the copper content is worth less than 1 cent. The value is based on the metal content, which is primarily zinc. Since zinc is worth significantly less than copper, the value of the penny is minimal.
Not too much more than they're worth now, unless the price of copper significantly increases.
Because the rise in value of copper made pennies worth more than one cent.
Actually, it is illegal. The metal in a penny is worth more than a penny. However, quarters made before 1974(I think), can be sold for their weigth in silver.
Old coins are valuable because they're old and rare. The 1945 penny isn't worth remarkably more than other coins of its approximate age (in fact, it's worth a lot less than a 1944 steel penny, or a 1943 copper penny, both of which are extremely rare).
In 1896 a penny was worth a penny. If you have a penny dated 1896 then it is worth more than that.
If it is copper, than it is worth thousands of dollars: unless it is a fraud which you can find out by placing it on a magnet. It will stick if it is fake. If your penny is silver colored, if uncirculated, it is worth about a dollar. if circulated, about 25 cents.