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Message:: [QUOTE="Collector1966, post: 1186664, member: 17919"]A few comments:One avoirdupois ounce of copper is the equivalent of a little less than 10 pre-1982 cents. One avoirdupois pound of copper is the equivalent of approximately 153 pre-1982 cents. The purity of a pre-1982 cent is 95% copper. The copper concentrate that refineries generally work with is much lower than that. Someone who is paying 25% of the copper price for pennies is paying far less than the face value-- approximately $1 for the copper, versus $1.53 face value of the pennies. 90% silver coins, which have a lower purity than pre-1982 cents, were not so popular as bullion items in the early days of post-silver coin production. My 1970 seller's guide, for example, shows dealer buy prices of common Roosevelt and Mercury dimes at only 10-and-a-half cents each. Even with postage at only 6 cents/ounce in those days, it would have been at best a break-even proposition to mail the silver coins to the buyer. One thing keeping interest in pre-1982 cents down is the prohibition on melting. When the day comes that the prohibition is lifted, then interest in these coins will increase. People certainly will not lose money saving copper pennies, and could eventually gain more than the face value.[/QUOTE]