95% Copper
1909 – 1982
United States one cent coins, more commonly referred to as “pennies,” were minted from 3.1 grams of a US-mined alloy containing 95% copper and 5% zinc from the introduction of the Lincoln cent in 1909 until mid 1982, when the composition was changed to 97.5% zinc with a copper coating accounting for only 2.5% of the new 2.5 gram coin.
Approved Processors use electronic sorting equipment to separate copper pennies from zinc pennies, and package the copper variety in 17 and 68 pound Trade Units for maximum shipping efficiency. The 17 pound Trade Unit contains approximately $25 face value, and the 68 pound Trade Unit contains approximately $100 face value.
The US Mint currently prohibits the destruction of US one and five cent coins to profit from the metal content under a ruling commonly referred to as the “melt ban,” but this does not prohibit collecting or trading the coins in their current form, much like 90% silver coins are commonly bought and sold as bullion.
Visit the Approved Merchants page for information on where to buy and sell Trade Units.
