Copper Bars

to the forum!

It looks like copper is around $4.32/lb. I'm sure the bars are worth as least the melt value of copper, I'm not sure about any premiums over spot.

Pre-1982 US pennies are copper. Some of the 1982 pennies are copper (weigh 3.1g) and some 1982 pennies are zinc (weigh 2.5g).

I've never understood the urge to collect copper bars. I guess it's because I'm a plumber and I hoard copper pipe.

I used to work in the scrap industry. we had several grades and prices for copper

From cheapest to most expensive

#2 insulated copper wire---thinner than a pencil lead or stranded we paid around a $1 a pound
#1 insulated copper wire---as thick or thicker than a pencil lead and we paid probably .50 higher a pound
sheet copper-- was in between the 2 wire grades in price. I believe this had to do with impurities and the fact that it took up more space in relation to weight. we didn't bale this, so there's a lot of air space when you go to ship it.
#2 copper---paid more than #1 wire, this would be in the $2-3 a pound range at the time. This was mostly used copper pipe, would have solder joints, and such, random copper pieces , etc.
#1 copper---this was clean or unused pipe and other clean copper pieces. we paid mostly over $3 a pound for this, and a few times it may have pushed over $4.
Bare Bright Copper---this was like bright, clean copper bars, and plate copper. larger machine punchings. most of this came from industrial clients. Power sub stations, etc. I remember having big 50 lb bar/plates of copper. I can't remember paying less than $4 a lb for this.

things would have to be very bad if people started to trade in copper. Not only that, you'd have to fight off alot of people trying to break into your house for all the copper plumbing and wiring!