Melt values › Copper penny
Copper Penny Melt Value: How Much Copper Is in a Penny?
A 1909–1982 copper penny (95% copper, 3.11 g) holds about 4.28¢ of copper, using the September 2026 average copper price of $14,473.06 per metric ton. A 1982-and-later zinc penny holds about 1.07¢ of metal. Both figures are melt values only, and melting US cents is restricted by federal law.
Source: copper price FRED PCOPPUSDM (September 2026 average, $14,473.06 per metric ton) and zinc price FRED PZINCUSDM (September 2026 average, $4,020.55 per metric ton), IMF data via FRED, fetched Oct 27, 2026 3:28 PM ET. Monthly averages, not a live price. Coin specs: U.S. Mint Annual Report, fiscal 1982 (FRASER), U.S. Mint.
Copper vs zinc penny melt value
| Cent | Years | Metal | Weight | Metal content | Metal value per coin | Per 100 coins ($1 face) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper cent (bronze/brass) | 1909–1942, 1944–1982 | 95% copper | 3.11 g | 2.954 g copper | 4.28¢ | $4.28 |
| Steel cent | 1943 | zinc-coated steel | — | no copper | — | — |
| Copper-plated zinc cent | 1982–today | 97.5% zinc, 2.5% copper | 2.50 g | 2.438 g zinc + 0.0625 g copper | 1.07¢ | $1.07 |
Over the last 12 months of data the copper in one old cent ranged from 3.17¢ (October 2025) to 4.28¢ (September 2026). A pound of pre-1982 cents is about 146 coins, roughly $6.24 of copper at the September 2026 average, against $1.46 in face value. That gap is why people sort cents, but the copper is only worth that to a refiner who can legally use it.
Copper price, last 12 months of data
| Month | Copper, $/metric ton | Copper in one pre-1982 cent |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | $14,473.06 | 4.28¢ |
| August 2026 | $14,331.26 | 4.23¢ |
| July 2026 | $13,542.82 | 4.00¢ |
| June 2026 | $13,552.04 | 4.00¢ |
| May 2026 | $13,512.16 | 3.99¢ |
| April 2026 | $12,890.69 | 3.81¢ |
| March 2026 | $12,528.71 | 3.70¢ |
| February 2026 | $12,951.34 | 3.83¢ |
| January 2026 | $12,986.61 | 3.84¢ |
| December 2025 | $11,790.96 | 3.48¢ |
| November 2025 | $10,812.03 | 3.19¢ |
| October 2025 | $10,739.92 | 3.17¢ |
How to tell a copper penny from a zinc one
Check the date first: 1981 and earlier are copper (except 1943 steel), 1983 and later are zinc. 1982 was struck both ways, so weigh it: about 3.11 g means copper, about 2.50 g means zinc (U.S. Mint FY1982 report). A rare-date or error cent, such as a 1943 cent struck in copper, is a collector question; see how to get coins graded. We do not publish collector values.
Melting pennies is restricted
Federal rules in 31 CFR Part 82 prohibit melting or treating US one-cent and five-cent coins, and limit exporting them, with narrow exceptions. So the copper value above is what the metal is worth, not money you can legally collect by melting. The Mint made its last circulating pennies in 2025 and now strikes cents only for collector sets (U.S. Mint).
Frequently asked questions
Are copper pennies worth more than one cent?
In metal, yes: a 1909–1982 copper cent holds about 4.28¢ of copper at the September 2026 average copper price (FRED PCOPPUSDM). Melting them is restricted by 31 CFR Part 82.
Which years are copper pennies?
1909 through 1982, except 1943 (steel). 1982 cents were made both in copper and in copper-plated zinc; copper ones weigh about 3.11 g, zinc ones about 2.50 g.
How much copper is in a penny?
A pre-1982 cent has about 2.95 g of copper (95% of 3.11 g). A 1982-and-later cent has about 0.0625 g of copper plating over a zinc core.
Is it legal to melt pennies?
No, not in general. 31 CFR Part 82 prohibits melting or treating US one-cent and five-cent coins, with narrow exceptions.
Why don't you show a live copper price?
We use a free, primary, dated source: the IMF monthly copper price published on FRED. It is a monthly average, so we label the month instead of calling it live.