Do you recycle copper pennies?

Got a call from a guy, told me he had 10-20 pounds of copper pennies and was wondering if we buy them.

He said, he could go to the bank and exchange them for quarters (larger change) but said he knew the price of copper was up and felt he could get more by recycling them rather than cashing them in.

Of coarse I told him no, warned him he might be subject to arrest and large fines if he tries to scrap (destroy) US currency.

That was a first for me, never had anybody ask if we pay cash for the scrap value of pennies.



I thought this was a bizarre and interesting inquiry so I figured I'd share it.

Im sure it would be a felony to do so, as the US Government has measures into place to replace old currency with new, fresh currency all the time.

Originally Posted by GeorgeB

Im sure it would be a felony to do so, as the US Government has measures into place to replace old currency with new, fresh currency all the time.

I'm not sure what the exact charge is but I'm sure it is in fact a very hefty one.

I believe, give or take my exact words, the first thing I said was "If you get caught destroying (scrapping, melting, refining) US currency you'll probably get arrested"

It's a bit baffling to me that he said it like it was nothing, in fact when I told him about the illegalities of it he sounded quite surprised that this was the case.

In my offshore oilfield days, working out of New Orleans, found myself hanging out on Bourbon Street, one summer afternoon. Wasn't much to it, just grab a beer and stand around watching the people come and go. There were lots of people had apartments and homes right there along the street. All of a sudden someone opens their door and steps out onto the sidewalk, with some sort of a cranking machine (similar to the thing you'd see in cartoons where the guy cranks the box and the monkey dances), but this machine cranked out pennies. I didn't inquire, but believe it was for a quarter, he'd crank you out a real penny with a New Orleans souvenir stamped into it. A crowd gathered round, as they often did for side shows, and the line grew. It wasn't long (i hadn't even finished my beer) until some fellas in suits appeared, showing him their badges, and arresting him for defacing US property (I think that was the charge)

I found it best to pick up the pennies kids had layed on the trolley car rails, for souvenirs, they came out squished quite well ; )

but this machine cranked out pennies. I didn't inquire, but believe it was for a quarter, he'd crank you out a real penny with a New Orleans souvenir stamped into it. A crowd gathered round, as they often did for side shows, and the line grew. It wasn't long until some fellas in suits appeared, showing him their badges, and arresting him for defacing US property (I think that was the charge)

Based on what your saying I think there is some differences of opinions as I've seen a penny pressing machine in the rest areas of the Ohio tollroad. Check halfway down this page. interesting reading;
Legal to press pennies or other coins?

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

Based on what your saying I think there is some differences of opinions as I've seen a penny pressing machine in the rest areas of the Ohio tollroad. Check halfway down this page. interesting reading;
Legal to press pennies or other coins?

that was an interesting read but to my interpretation, came across as though it is in fact illegal to use penny pressing machines, like at disney world, other amusement parks, or souvenir shops. So, is it legal to provide a penny pressing machine, and earn money with it, however illegal to use it?

Some people buy them and hoard them without destroying them. They are "banking" on pennies going away from US currency due to inflationn or being able to cash them in for scrap value at some point in the future. i dont smelt copper myself, so i am not interested in hoarding pennies, but im sure it happens all the time with backkyard foundries. I would hate to know what happens when someone gets caught