Copper Investing

That's right - copper investing.

The easiest way to invest in copper is by hoarding copper pennies - those produced (minted) between 1909 and 1981. These pennies are 96% copper, and their intrinsic value (as bullion) is about two times their face value as this article is written.

Copper pennies are frequently traded in lots weighing 68 pounds - a standard US Postal Service shipping container. This is equal to about $100 face value in pennies.

Is it legal to melt pennies? In a word - no. Refer to this document for details on the melting and exporting of pennies and nickels. But you do not need to melt them to trade and profit from them. Back in the late 1960's silver was passing the face value of coins. People began trading the coins rather than melting them. I once delivered $10,000 face value in silver (10 bags) to a Trust Company in my 1972 Pinto - those were the days! They may come again with pennies - who knows?