Copper uses an editable fallback until the latest Gold API HG value loads; nickel remains editable.
Copper source: Gold API HG/USD. Gold API identifies Copper/HG and USD but documents neither the unit nor a CME linkage; MeltOffer assumes its HG value follows the CME HG convention of USD per pound and requires independent verification. The nickel input remains an editable benchmark. Reviewed .
| Coin | Contained metal | Each | Qty | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper cents | ||||
| Large cent (208-grain standard) 1793–1795 | 13.4782 g Cu | $0.1921 | — | |
| Large cent (168-grain standard) 1796–1857 | 10.8862 g Cu | $0.1552 | — | |
| Half cent (104-grain standard) 1793–1795 | 6.7391 g Cu | $0.0961 | — | |
| Half cent (84-grain standard) 1796–1857 | 5.4431 g Cu | $0.0776 | — | |
| Flying Eagle / copper-nickel Indian Head cent 1856–1858 / 1859–mid-1864 | 4.1056 g Cu + 0.5599 g Ni | $0.0681 | — | |
| Indian Head bronze cent mid-1864–1909 | 2.9548 g Cu | $0.0421 | — | |
| Two-cent bronze coin 1864–1873 | 5.9097 g Cu | $0.0842 | — | |
| Lincoln bronze cent 1909–1981; 3.11 g 1982 only; exclude regular 1943 | 2.9548 g Cu | $0.0421 | — | |
| Lincoln zinc cent 2.50 g 1982 issues–2025 circulation; 2026 collector issues | 0.0625 g Cu | $0.0009 | — | |
| Copper-nickel coins | ||||
| Shield nickel 1866–1883 | 3.7500 g Cu + 1.2500 g Ni | $0.0748 | — | |
| Liberty Head V nickel 1883–1912 | 3.7500 g Cu + 1.2500 g Ni | $0.0748 | — | |
| Buffalo nickel 1913–1938 | 3.7500 g Cu + 1.2500 g Ni | $0.0748 | — | |
| Jefferson nickel (standard alloy) 1938–mid-1942; 1946–present | 3.7500 g Cu + 1.2500 g Ni | $0.0748 | — | |
| Three-cent nickel 1865–1889 | 1.4580 g Cu + 0.4860 g Ni | $0.0291 | — | |
Standard nickel roll and box values
| Quantity | Contained-metal value |
|---|---|
| 1 standard nickel | $0.0748 |
| $2 roll / 40 nickels | $2.99 |
| $100 box / 2,000 nickels | $149.62 |
Composition and issue traps
The U.S. Mint's historic production record and current specifications document changing weights and alloys. Earlier standards are cross-checked against the Mint's historical standards table and the relevant federal coinage statutes. These are nominal specifications, not measurements of a worn or damaged coin.
Some 1795 cents and half cents use a reduced-weight standard, so weigh and identify transition-year coins. Some 1982 cents require weighing: only the approximately 3.11-gram version uses the bronze-cent row. Regular 1943 Lincoln cents are steel.
Silver-alloy 1942–1945 nickels belong in the war nickel value calculator. Identify them by the large P, D, or S mintmark above Monticello; 1942 also includes standard-alloy nickels. The unified nickel calculator compares both compositions in one collection total.
Collector value comes first
Early cents, two-cent coins, three-cent nickels, and many older five-cent coins normally have collector value above their contained metal. Never clean them. The 1856 Flying Eagle cent is a scarce collector issue, and any claimed 1913 Liberty Head nickel needs expert authentication; the Smithsonian documents the five clandestine 1913 pieces. Use this table only as a metal benchmark after identifying the exact coin.
Legal restriction
31 CFR Part 82 generally prohibits melting or processing US cents and nickels for metal recovery and limits bulk export, with narrow exceptions. This page is an informational contained-metal comparison.
Frequently asked questions
How much copper is in a pre-1982 Lincoln cent?
A standard 95% copper Lincoln cent weighs 3.11 grams and contains about 2.9545 grams of copper. Exclude 1943 steel cents and identify 1982 transition issues by weight.
How much copper and nickel are in a standard US nickel?
A standard five-cent coin weighs 5 grams and is 75% copper and 25% nickel, so it contains 3.75 grams of copper and 1.25 grams of nickel.
Are 1942–1945 war nickels included?
No. Silver-alloy wartime nickels use a different composition; use the war nickel calculator after confirming the large reverse mintmark.
Do all old US cents and nickels use the same composition?
No. Weight and alloy standards changed, sometimes within a year. Match the coin type, date, and measured weight to the specific row before using its contained-metal value.
Can I melt US pennies or nickels for metal recovery?
Generally no. 31 CFR Part 82 restricts melting or processing US one-cent and five-cent coins for their metal value and restricts bulk export, subject to listed exceptions.