Copper Penny Melt Value
Cents dated 1981 and earlier (plus some 1982s) are 95% copper — 2.95 grams of copper each. At the live copper price below, the metal in one old penny is worth several times its face value.
Two catches before anyone gets excited: melting or exporting US cents for their metal is federally prohibited (31 CFR Part 82), and copper's per-pound economics mean value accumulates only in bulk — this page prices the metal content as a reference, which is how hoarders and dealers actually trade sorted copper cents.
Sorting 1982
1982 struck both compositions. The scale settles it: copper cents weigh 3.11 g, copper-plated zinc weighs 2.50 g. Zinc cents (1983+) hold no meaningful metal value.
Sorted copper cents trade by the pound or by $25 face bag among hoarders, typically at some discount to pure copper melt — the discount is the market pricing in the melt ban and the zinc-sorting labor.
Sources: live spot prices via gold-api.com · coin weights and fineness from U.S. Mint historical specifications · karat/fineness definitions per standard jewelry marking practice. Melt value ≠ an offer to buy; see how we calculate.