No More Melting

The U.S. Mint has now banned the melting of pennies and nickels. That's right, the pennies and nickels in your pocket are now worth more melted down. A nickel is 25% zinc and 75% copper. The metal in the nickel is worth 6.99. Including the cost of production, it costs the government 8.34 cents to produce a nickel. The modern penny today is 2.5% copper and 97.5% zinc. The metal is worth 1.12 cents and with the cost of production, it is worth 1.73 cents. If you own a penny made before 1982 it is made of 95% copper and 5% zinc. It's value being 2.13 cents. The penalty for melting pennies or nickels, up to 5 years in prison and/or a $10000 fine.

What to take from all of this. First off, the value of american currency is not even worth what it costs to make it any more. Secondly, I find the whole thing slightly humerous. The things the government does...