What is Your Strategy for Dealing With Change?

[Helena]

I have 40 pounds of pennies.

The copper is now worth more than the value of the pennies.

If I were you, I'd keep them.

 

[Gumby]

The copper is now worth more than the value of the pennies.

Only if they are from 1981 or earlier, when pennies were made with 95% copper. The copper in them is worth about 3 cents each at current prices. However, since 1982 pennies have been made almost entirely of zinc.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Exploding piggy-bank aims to scare Japanese into saving - Yahoo! News

This oughta solve all the problems.

 

[Helena]

Only if they are from 1981 or earlier, when pennies were made with 95% copper. The copper in them is worth about 3 cents each at current prices. However, since 1982 pennies have been made almost entirely of zinc.

You're right... exchange the 1982-2007 pennies for nickels

Current Melt Value Of Coins - How Much Is Your Coin Worth?

 

[bright eyed]

I use cards mostly too - but with change they go in my wallet (and gets used as much as possible, which I guess may annoy the people behind me in line...) or the ash tray in the car - which gets used a lot too - every time we go through a drive through or my dad uses it to help pay for gas...so it's often empty.

 

[HobbyDave]

You're right... exchange the 1982-2007 pennies for nickels

Current Melt Value Of Coins - How Much Is Your Coin Worth?

Actually that was the 1982-2007 nickles which are worth around 6 cents. The
newer pennies were worth like 69% of a penny. So still not worth melting them down

 

[travelover]

The copper is now worth more than the value of the pennies.

If I were you, I'd keep them.

I'm keeping 'em. DW's fourth graders are fascinated by them.