Is it true that pennies made before 1974 are worth more?

Question

I was told to save my pennies from before 1974 that they are worth more than regular pennies. But what do I do with them?

Answer 1

U.S. cents are made of .950 copper until 1982 when they became copper plated zinc. You can do nothing but spend them for it is against the law to melt them or export them as well as nickels.

Answer 2

Most are worth 1 to 3 cents a piece.  Dont waste your time unless you can accumulate several thousand.

http://coins.about.com/library/coin_valu...

Answer 3

this isnt really true, there not really worth more, they just have more copper in them is all

Answer 4

Pennies were not made of copper during World War II and some people like to collect those "white" pennies.  I can't remember now what white metal they were made from, but copper was needed by the "war effort".

Some people also collect "wheat" pennies, which have the words "ONE CENT" surrounded by two heads of grain.  Those were made until some time in the early sixties, but again, they're not worth enormous amounts more than one cent each.

Pennies with mint errors on them can be valuable as well.