What to do with worn copper coins?

[Russ777 0]

Hi I have a quantity of copper coins some early 19th century. The thing is they are worn some to almost a shiny copper disc.

My question is this, what should I do with them? I feel a bit bad chucking them in the bin and they are not good enough for a charity though some you can make out the date. Of course the weight hardly makes them worth buying.

I thought about burying them and giving some metal detectorist a bit of fun!

I guess there might be 1kg

Any suggestions. One scrap dealer was going to offer me £1.50 per kilo on the coins no longer in circulation but this seems hardly worth the effort and may be a rip off.

Thanks Russ777

[azda 979]

I'd save it for a rainy day, add to it, and maybe sometime in the future the copper price go higher, but if the wife is not to happy with it at home, then bury it in the back garden but don't forget where it is. How have you got on with the 1901, any takers? anything from Spink?

Edited May 26, 2010 by azda

[£400 for a Penny ? 0]

Use them as gaming tokens for card games - that's what I do with a large pot of 1967 pennies.

Or, source one of those old one armed bandit slot machines that take pre decimal and set it up in the garage. May appreciate in value if you buy carefully.

Or, take the view that £1.50 is £1.50 and stick it in your future purchases pot. (copper is @ $3.00 per pound so 2.2 x 3 = $6.6 so you're not being ripped off)

Or, take them down the garden and use them as air gun targets.

Endless options.....

[Gary D 76]

Use them as gaming tokens for card games - that's what I do with a large pot of 1967 pennies.

Or, source one of those old one armed bandit slot machines that take pre decimal and set it up in the garage. May appreciate in value if you buy carefully.

Or, take the view that £1.50 is £1.50 and stick it in your future purchases pot. (copper is @ $3.00 per pound so 2.2 x 3 = $6.6 so you're not being ripped off)

Or, take them down the garden and use them as air gun targets.

Endless options.....

You could do what everyone else seems to do. Put them on ebay !!!!!WOW RARE!!!!!!

[TomGoodheart 402]

Do you live near a college that offers art classes? I know when I was sculpting I would probably have found a use for some shiny copper discs! Sewn them to a jacket, nailed them to a carving, stuck them .. somewhere! Why not see of your local art school wants them?

I'd have them but my wife will kill me if I add any more craft material junk to the already existing plie in the studio garage.

[declanwmagee 122]

Do you live near a college that offers art classes? I know when I was sculpting I would probably have found a use for some shiny copper discs! Sewn them to a jacket, nailed them to a carving, stuck them .. somewhere! Why not see of your local art school wants them?

I'd have them but my wife will kill me if I add any more craft material junk to the already existing plie in the studio garage.

blimey - that's very Illuminati, Tom!

[TomGoodheart 402]

Do you live near a college that offers art classes? I know when I was sculpting I would probably have found a use for some shiny copper discs! Sewn them to a jacket, nailed them to a carving, stuck them .. somewhere! Why not see of your local art school wants them?

I'd have them but my wife will kill me if I add any more craft material junk to the already existing plie in the studio garage.

blimey - that's very Illuminati, Tom!

How about this one then?

[azda 979]

Watch out, he may tickle your hand, do a backflip and stick his finger in his ear and expect you to do your secret handshake to

Edited May 26, 2010 by azda

[Russ777 0]

Some interesting ideas maybe a collage??

Azda Regarding Spink and the coin/auction. Firstly it is not 1901 it's a 1896 penny.

No takers. But a fair few watchers are you one on the auction Azda? Guessing a couple might just be people from this site.

No takers. But people often bid last minute.

As regards Spink they are supposed to reply within 48 hours. Well absolutely no reply - not impressed. Guess they are not interested but a prompt reply either way would have been polite!

I am thinking of lowering even more with buy it now to see if someone will just snap it up as an interesting coin albeit early stages of die break (more likely) or the other scenario.

Russ777

[azda 979]

Yes i've been watching it Russ, you keep dropping it people will be waiting till it goes to a pound mate.

[Russ777 0]

Yes Azda I know Ebay always has bargain hunters. But I am not risk letting it go for 99p I would rather keep it though it would probably be bid up somewhat..

There always seems some interest in certain Victorian pennies. I have nothing to compare mine to as you say....

I know you said hang on a month and get it checked out, but if in early stages of die breaking up (as Colin G suggests) and an interesting item because the flaw makes the 'I' look like numeral '1' then I will have done very well...

I have lowered the start price and done a buy it now. Hoping for someone with deep pockets (not me). I will be satisfied with either amount. I think if just early stages of die breaking up then I will have done quite well would you agree??? Of course as you said a genuine tooling error I could have made much more.... But I am happy with the outcome

Regards Russ777

[Red Riley 2]

Hi I have a quantity of copper coins some early 19th century. The thing is they are worn some to almost a shiny copper disc.

My question is this, what should I do with them? I feel a bit bad chucking them in the bin and they are not good enough for a charity though some you can make out the date. Of course the weight hardly makes them worth buying.

I thought about burying them and giving some metal detectorist a bit of fun!

I guess there might be 1kg

Any suggestions. One scrap dealer was going to offer me £1.50 per kilo on the coins no longer in circulation but this seems hardly worth the effort and may be a rip off.

Thanks Russ777

Hi, just come back from holiday, so have missed a lot.

My suggestion, is one that I have made before when this topic has come up. Simply give them to any kid you know who has shown the faintest interest in coin collecting. They may be worth next to nothing but the acquisition of some old, albeit extremly worn coins can set a youngster's heart racing and can plant a seed for the future. If you don't know any likely candidates, just have a word around, I'm sure you will find some willing takers.