![Pre 83 copper pennies [4608x3456 - 2MB]](https://pic8.co/sh/0jmczz.jpg){kind=link}
Melting them is a gray area. The mint doesn't like you defacing money wholesale, but if you're not selling it or making money from it they generally don't say anything. Since the only reason to melt coinage is for the metals, you're probably going to get a visit from a secret service agent.
That's why you can deface pennies in embossers. You're paying someone to do it for you, but you're not selling the result.
Nah. The secret service only goes after counterfeits and the counterfeiters. There's plenty of people making hobo carved coins, jewelry and plenty more melting coins. I've seen some interesting ways to deface coins. Even stacking, welding, folding and making them into handles for decorative items.
If you guys are interested in physical precious metals, there are plenty of reputable dealers online. I know of folks hoarding copper, silver, platinum, gold, etc. As coins and bars or as bullion. Mainly as a hedge against inflation, some for a shit hitting the fan scenario. Even as a hedge against getting blown out in a divorce. If you do something like that, don't tell anyone. Use online communities to talk to others like that.
I never thought of collecting lots of pennies to complement silver and gold coinage. Smaller amounts than even silver coins.
You have to be doing it on a grand scale before they care. You do it to 100 coins and they aren't going to give a shit.
I believe the break is that you have to be trading counterfeit off as real. Even on something like hobo American Silver Eagles, Peace dollars or Morgan dollars, removing silver to make art, they're sold as art. Especially melting them and pouring them, it's art. There's plenty of online communities with plenty of artists who've been doing stuff like that for years and years. No secret service visits have been reported, no one's been arrested. Fairly certain the secret service cares more about (and is far too busy) chasing after paper money counterfeits
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