Copperheads

[billyjoe]

How about a thread dedicated to copper......the new semi, semi, semi precious metal sensation? I'm stockpiling with several hundred pounds of copper pennies stashed away. Percentage of 95% copper cents (before 1983) is holding around 30% per roll. It is illegal to melt them down or change the metal content of a cent but maybe a person could pound a great number of them into a decorative ladle or a bathtub. Current value of copper U.S. cent is 2.2046 cents.

--------------billy

[peanuts]

I bet people were doing a similar thing in 1965, and taking all of the silver coin out of circulation. Today, a silver dime is worth $1.33 in silver content alone.

A similar increase in the price of copper is not out of the question. This means that each one of those pennies would be worth approximately 14 cents each with straight line inflation. But with exponential inflation, those copper pennies might have a value of 1,2, or yikes, 3 dollars each in copper content alone.

Somebody, someday, is really going to like finding that penny hoard.

[mrmarket]

If you like Copper here, then you'll probably also like my lastest pick: BUCY. The company sells mining equipment.

[skiracer]

is there any copper content in regular pennies or just in the wheat pennies. i have been collecting the wheat pennies for 30 years or so and have one of those 5 gal water bottles filled about 3 or 4 in. up with them. we also throw all of our pennies into another water jug and that is just about filled with them. how much is one of todays regular pennies worth copper wise? I also have a pile of silver coin, half dollars, quarters, and dimes if anyone is interested.

[billyjoe]

Ski,
All the U.S. pennies from 1909 until about Sept. 1982 contain 95% copper. As of today that is 2.205 cents of copper value. So anything before 1982 is worth saving. Wheat cents are selling for approximately 4 cents each in bulk amounts although some individual coins could be worth more.

----------------billy

[skiracer]

Ski,
All the U.S. pennies from 1909 until about Sept. 1982 contain 95% copper. As of today that is 2.205 cents of copper value. So anything before 1982 is worth saving. Wheat cents are selling for approximately 4 cents each in bulk amounts although some individual coins could be worth more.

----------------billy

egads, i'm rich!!!!

[billyjoe]

I just bought a digital gram scale on e-bay for 7.99 with free shipping. Now I can weigh my stash of 1982 pennies to determine which are 95% copper (3.11 grams) and those that are worthless zinc (2.50 grams).

------------billy

[Lyehopper]

I just bought a digital gram scale on e-bay for 7.99 with free shipping. Now I can weigh my stash of 1982 pennies to determine which are 95% copper (3.11 grams) and those that are worthless zinc (2.50 grams).

------------billy

Billy, since you were in the greenhouse/custom plant business all those years, I'm surprised ye didn't already have a gram scale. jejeje

[billyjoe]

Jeez , Lye, what are you implying?

-----------billy

p.s. I used lots of fertilizer so I only needed a pound scale

[peanuts]

When you bounce them flat side down on a hard surface, the copper pennies make a distintive ring. The zinc pennies make a thud sound.

I've been putting together one of those coin books for pennies. I've got nearly all the spots full... even the wheat pennies

[billyjoe]

Last batch of 2500 cents were 28% copper. Percentages are slowly dropping. Just put into heavy boxes about 132.5 lbs of copper pennies. That's 384 rolls. About $365 in copper value with the price dropping below .02 per cent this week. Have lots more but have to get the heavy cardboard containers. It's like having a little stock market in the bedroom. I know those 2 boxes held over $400 in copper last week.

---------------billy

[billyjoe]

Copper cents at about 26-28% per roll. Current melt value 95% copper 1909-1982 cents is 2.2 cents each. Market value copper per pound is 3.25.

-----------billy

[billyjoe]

As of today March 12th, 2010 copper is 3.39/pound. I've stockpiled 1536 rolls of 95% copper pennies worth $768 face value but about $1722 in melt value with over 500 pounds of copper and 27 pounds of zinc. A friend asked how I'd ever get rid of all these pennies. I'm not worried. The same questions were asked of those stashing away silver in 1965 and they've done pretty well. Go Copper!

-----------billy

[skiracer]

As of today March 12th, 2010 copper is 3.39/pound. I've stockpiled 1536 rolls of 95% copper pennies worth $768 face value but about $1722 in melt value with over 500 pounds of copper and 27 pounds of zinc. A friend asked how I'd ever get rid of all these pennies. I'm not worried. The same questions were asked of those stashing away silver in 1965 and they've done pretty well. Go Copper!

-----------billy

what would it take to melt them billy. how high a temperature does it take to melt down the copper pennies. my electrician friends just gave me another two loads of the thick copper wire, 3/8" and 1/2" clad wire, from a job they were doing. i have a pile of it at least 6' in dia. and about
3 1/2 / 4' high. there's gotta be 500/600 lbs. there. that's unstripped stuff but stashed in one of my vans that isnt being driven anymore is about 200 lbs. of stripped stuff. i have got to strip it and take it somewhere to get rid of it.

well we gave back a little with NYB today but I'm still holding the trade. i hope you are too. it's going to see $19-20 for sure.

[billyjoe]

Ski,
Copper melting point is 1981.4F although I've got no plans for melting. I'll let somebody else worry about that after they meet my price which could be years from now. The scrap yard might give you 1/2 the current copper price for the wire. I'd hold on to it. My nephew has sold some after he melted the plastic off the wire.

-----------billy