‘Penny for your thoughts’

By Eddie West Staff Writer

Is a penny still worth one cent?

Since a halt in production last fall, questions surround the coin.

Some residents are storing them away with the thought some day they may become a collectible item.

This might be the case but only for certain pennies.

For example, pennies made before 1981 are already collector’s items because they are made of copper, says David Brock, an avid coin collector and a dealer with Touch of Class Jewelers in Dickson.

Since 1983, pennies have been made of zinc and are not expected to become a future collector’s item, Brock explains.

What about pennies produced in 1982?

During this year some pennies were made of copper and some with zinc, explains Brock, who says the copper ones are collectible. A copper penny minted in 1982 can be detected by its weight which is heavier than zinc pennies. 

There is one exception as to whether a zinc penny may be worth more than one cent.

Coin collectors are always searching for those rare pennies termed an “error coin” where a mistake in production was made at the mint. These pennies can be worth hundreds and even thousands of dollars among coin collectors.

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