Foreign coins as base metal "bullion"

[AGgressive Metal]

I collect various foreign coins that have high purities of either copper or nickel as a form of base metal investment. Often, I can get them below spot, but you have to know what you are looking for.

Canadian nickels are .999 nickel, old British pennies are 97% copper and so forth. Its cheap, low-risk, and you have numismatic upside in addition to the base metal content.

[Heads_Up]

I would agree to this to a point. Many countries historically used silver and gold to create their coinage. You have to know your subject. With this in mind, remember that joe public does not know other countries. I have people here in Canada ask me what I mean by old 80% coinage.

I collect Canada, USA, Phillipines(which used US blanks), and Mexico(but it used many percentages over the years so you have to know before hand).

An example is that a local coin shop sold me 2 old British coins, both sold as silver content. Instead of knowing ahead of time what I was looking for, 1 was silver and the other was nickel. I don't use this shop anymore for foreign silver coinage, but it was my own fault for not knowing what I was purchasing ahead of time and accepting their marketing.

[AGgressive Metal]

British coinage was 50% from 1920-1946. Before that it was 92.5% but those coins are old enough to trade well over spot numismatically.

French Francs from 1960-2000 are .999 nickel. That is, 1/2 francs, francs, and 2 francs. There 5 franc coins are nickel coated CuNi.

[Pragmatist]

Buy American!! A pre 1982 penny is worth over twice it's face value. Now that's what I call bang for your buck! If we don't hoard them, the Chinese probably will. lol. At least with a nickel you are getting your moneys worth. That's more than you can say for paper currency. http://www.coinflation.com/

[Hellsbane]

I have a 1992 UK 10 Pence, what is the metal?

[Castrensis]

I have a 1992 UK 10 Pence, what is the metal?

75% copper & 25% Nickel.

[sharkkbyte]

wow, I have two old whisky jugs FULL of pennies, maybe I should get to sorting through em while on vacation?
whay years should I pay attention to?

[cpthnsolo]

wow, I have two old whisky jugs FULL of pennies, maybe I should get to sorting through em while on vacation?
whay years should I pay attention to?

All pre-82's are keepers and most 82's you'll find are keepers. In order to tell whether or not the 82 is copper vs zinc flip it in the air. If it "sings", it's Cu. If it doesn't (try it with new pennies and you'll see for yourself) it's zinc. Someone already posted http://www.coinflation.com/ above...

While we're on the subject you guys should check out realcent as well. They just moved the forums to a new url (http://www.realcent.org/) but people are already posting.

[AGgressive Metal]

wow, I have two old whisky jugs FULL of pennies, maybe I should get to sorting through em while on vacation?
whay years should I pay attention to?

What cpthnsolo said. Also, you can look for pre-97 Canadian pennies (97% copper and thus worth more than face), and pre-59 pennies with the "wheat" reverse.

[Green Light]

Most Americans don't see many Canadian coins but it's a great idea if you're in the right place.

[Argentum47]

I collect various foreign coins that have high purities of either copper or nickel as a form of base metal investment. Often, I can get them below spot, but you have to know what you are looking for.

Canadian nickels are .999 nickel, old British pennies are 97% copper and so forth. Its cheap, low-risk, and you have numismatic upside in addition to the base metal content.

I don't suppose you know the copper content weight wise for the Old British Pennies, Half Pennies, Three Penny bits and Farthings do you?

Been considering stocking up for these for quite a while but would like to know what their individual scrap values are before I start buying up. Thanks

[latemetal]

Look for a large book at the library, "Standard Catalog of World Coins" and good luck.

I don't suppose you know the copper content weight wise for the Old British Pennies, Half Pennies, Three Penny bits and Farthings do you?

Been considering stocking up for these for quite a while but would like to know what their individual scrap values are before I start buying up. Thanks

[Argentum47]

Look for a large book at the library, "Standard Catalog of World Coins" and good luck.

Thanks,
Just downloaded a PDF version. Time to make a spreadsheet now with all the info.

[charlie1023]

All pre-82's are keepers and most 82's you'll find are keepers. In order to tell whether or not the 82 is copper vs zinc flip it in the air. If it "sings", it's Cu. If it doesn't (try it with new pennies and you'll see for yourself) it's zinc. Someone already posted http://www.coinflation.com/ above...

While we're on the subject you guys should check out realcent as well. They just moved the forums to a new url (http://www.realcent.org/) but people are already posting.

Interesting concept bt I prefer a little bit surer method myself. Buy yourself a digital scale on ebay for 10-12 bucks or so and just weigh the pennies from 1982. Most will be copper but some will be zinc from when the composition was switched that year. Coppers are 3.2 grams while zinc's are 2.5 grams, it will take you a second to weigh each once you start checking all of them out. I order penny boxes from the bank and as I sort I group the 82's in one bin then quickly slide them on and off the scale as it will be very evident once you do it which is which. Don't pay a lot for the scale, any of the cheap electronic ones on the bay will suffice!

[fasTTcar]

The bonus of foreign coin is that there is no melting ban issues.

You have no problems melting Canadian coins in the US.