Well, I have saved my nickels over the years and have about 6 or 7 pounds of the stuff. They seem to be the only current US coinage that has any usable metal (nickel) in them. Other coins I regularly take to my bank, which has a coin counter, and they write me a check for it. Like you, I use the check to buy (ahem!) more pew-pews or tactical gear. Pennies, not so much, I can't check through every penny for the dates so they go into the coin jar to be redeemed.
Pennies are kinda easy to sort. Most times you can tell just by the color. The copper ones will be a dark brown color. Or toss them on a scale.2.5 grams for the fake 1982-present zinc.3 grams for pre 82 copper.
The 1982 pennies have to be wieghed. 82 was the change over year.some are copper some are zinc.
I'd have to consider the economics of it. Quarters and dimes are, as you say, mostly copper, BUT there are costs associated with extracting the copper from these coins. If the cost to extract is more than the value of the actual copper, no smelter or dealer would want them.
It's sort of like silver plate flatware. Sure there is a modicum of silver in them, but it costs more to extract the silver than the spot price of the actual silver content; therefore, no one wants silver plate.
So I will continue hoarding the nickels, as nickel does have some industrial value. Still not sold on the dimes, quarters and pennies.
Well, I have saved my nickels over the years and have about 6 or 7 pounds of the stuff. They seem to be the only current US coinage that has any usable metal (nickel) in them. Other coins I regularly take to my bank, which has a coin counter, and they write me a check for it. Like you, I use the check to buy (ahem!) more pew-pews or tactical gear. Pennies, not so much, I can't check through every penny for the dates so they go into the coin jar to be redeemed.
Quarters and dimes are mostly copper.
Pennies are kinda easy to sort. Most times you can tell just by the color. The copper ones will be a dark brown color. Or toss them on a scale.2.5 grams for the fake 1982-present zinc.3 grams for pre 82 copper.
The 1982 pennies have to be wieghed. 82 was the change over year.some are copper some are zinc.
I'd have to consider the economics of it. Quarters and dimes are, as you say, mostly copper, BUT there are costs associated with extracting the copper from these coins. If the cost to extract is more than the value of the actual copper, no smelter or dealer would want them.
It's sort of like silver plate flatware. Sure there is a modicum of silver in them, but it costs more to extract the silver than the spot price of the actual silver content; therefore, no one wants silver plate.
So I will continue hoarding the nickels, as nickel does have some industrial value. Still not sold on the dimes, quarters and pennies.