Is a penny every worth more in weight (because it is copper) than 1 cent?

Question

if so I am going to the scrap yard.

Answer 1

It depends , check the dates also...

Answer 2

Pennies today are fake, mainly zinc with a thin layer of copper on the outside, being 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper total composition. Before 1981 they were 90% copper; in 1981 the alloy was changed to allow less copper, and in 1982 it was changed to what we have today.

Even now with pennies mostly zinc it costs almost too much to make them, and some want to eliminate the penny altogether as too expensive to mint.

A copper penny from 1980 and earlier is worth more than its face value just as scrap metal. Same thing with silver dimes and quarters.

Answer 3

A true 'copper' cent is the only US coin worth more than it's treasury value. If you melt them down for copper it's a federal crime, also, years back the US mint reduced the copper content in a one cent piece by a large percent and replaced it with zinc, (which is almost worthless). Take a trip to a local coin-star machine.

Answer 4

Actually, just recently the zinc and copper contents became more valuable than 1 cent, which means they will probably change the make-up again soon.

Answer 5

Not any more. They started making them out of zinc slugs coated in copper back in the 70s for that reason. It was costing more to make them than what they were worth.

Answer 6

Old (really old) pennies are copper. New pennies are zinc with a copper plating. They probably aren't worth a penny.

Answer 7

It is Zinc covered with a thin layer of copper

Answer 8

they news said it is worth a cent and a half