Is it legal to smelt US coins?

A recent thread today reminded me of this question.

I had thought it was illegal to melt/smelt US coins. It appears that silver coinage gets tossed in the pot daily.

Am I confusing "pennies" as the metal coin that can not be melted? Seems like someone told me recently, that my 20,000 Wheat Ears would never be worth much due to the fact that they could not be melted. That is the last thing I would want to happen to a cent.

Not one red or brown cent of mine better ever see the melting pot. :goofer:

Thanks for any help with clarifying.

 

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http://www.coinflation.com/is_it_illegal_to_melt_coins.html

 

It was my understanding that they just made it illegal to melt cents and nickels a couple years agp.

 

What if you make a Hobo Nickel and sell it as "Fine Art"?

 

Nickel? Interesting. Thank you.

 

Thank you. From your site referenced above, I came across this one below. It seemed timely. It scarey to think what can happen to coins when spot base metal prices hit the roof:

http://www.pcgs.com/articles/article496.chtml

 

I think it's all in the words "fraudulent intent".

 

I was just trying to make a round-about social commentary on the high price of Hobo nickels...

Even Tom Brady throws an interception once in a while! :crying:

 

I wont tell if you wont...LOL