145 pennies to a pound. Based on current price of copper, you will make a nice profit for each pound of pennies you set aside. The last year for copper pennies was 1982. About 75% of them were copper, the other 25% zinc. You can tell the difference by using a cheap digital scale. Copper pennies weigh around 3.11 grams whereas zinc pennies weigh around 2. 56 grams.

I have one 5 gallon bucket full so far. For each $100 of pennies I go through, I set aside around $20 - $30 in copper pennies. The day will come when coins are no longer minted and you can cash in.

There are machines out there that can sort 10,000 pennies an hour. The difference in conductivity ( I think) separates the zinc pennies from the copper ones. There are two limitations however. The machine costs over $500 though. It doesnt take long to sort through a $25 box of pennies. I have found two Indian head pennies and wheat cents also.