How to calculate the intrinsic value of 10p, 20p, 50p decimal Cupro-Nickel coinage

[Divmad]

I found out today that a 10p modern UK coin is made up of 75% Copper, 25% Nickel, within a total weight of 6.5gms.

How much is this coin's melt value today? Similarly for the 20p and 50p coins.

And is it legal to melt down these coins? In the USA it's not legal.

Cheers.

 

 

[Deus]

 

Quote

 

10Restrictions on melting or breaking of metal coins.

(1)No person shall, except under the authority of a licence granted by the Treasury, melt down or break up any metal coin which is for the time being current in the United Kingdom or which, having been current there, has at any time after 16th May 1969 ceased to be so.

(2)Any person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be liable—

(a)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £400;

(b)on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both.

 

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/24 

[LawrenceChard]

1 hour ago, Divmad said:

I found out today that a 10p modern UK coin is made up of 75% Copper, 25% Nickel, within a total weight of 6.5gms.

How much is this coin's melt value today? Similarly for the 20p and 50p coins.

And is it legal to melt down these coins? In the USA it's not legal.

Cheers.

 

As your topic heading was:

How to calculate the intrinsic value of 10p, 20p, 50p decimal Cupro-Nickel coinage

I thought you were going to tell us, not ask a question!

😎

[Petra]

Probably more money to be made cashing in bags of coins at the bank?😁

[ady]

21 minutes ago, Deus said:

10Restrictions on melting or breaking of metal coins.

How could a government know that a melt had formally been a coin & wasn't it in america where you could supply silver to be minted? I could/can comprehend note forging.

[Petra]

3 minutes ago, ady said:

How could a government know that a melt had formally been a coin & wasn't it in america where you could supply silver to be minted? I could/can comprehend note forging.

Costs to make money. Probably like getting caught melting stolen gold or silver, probably won’t be but if you are you get hammered. Bit pointless spending loads though to melt for a bit of copper and nickel. A lot of easier ways to get those metals

[ady]

3 minutes ago, Petra said:

Probably more money to be made cashing in bags of coins at the bank?

The mint have what I find revealing a video on reclaimation of certain metals, I certainly pick my copper tuppences out and considering any cash held to be in coins whatever metal, the little tinker I am becoming.

[Petra]

1 minute ago, ady said:

The mint have what I find revealing a video on reclaimation of certain metals, I certainly pick my copper tuppences out and considering any cash held to be in coins whatever metal, the little tinker I am becoming.

Can totally agree with the old copper coins, however, separating metals from modern coinage is probably a lot more hassle than converting .925 silver to .999

[ady]

4 minutes ago, Petra said:

Costs to make money.

Agree, but the minted coin has relatively represented a greater value than its base value, and hence why most TSF members know what real money represents.

6 minutes ago, Petra said:

separating metals from modern coinage is probably a lot more hassle than converting .925 silver to .999

Fully agree but how long, before any metal represents something of true value. I have many a pre1920 ag coin and will be happy to keep acquiring.

[BackyardBullion]

10 hours ago, Divmad said:

I found out today that a 10p modern UK coin is made up of 75% Copper, 25% Nickel, within a total weight of 6.5gms.

How much is this coin's melt value today? Similarly for the 20p and 50p coins.

And is it legal to melt down these coins? In the USA it's not legal.

Cheers.

 

 

Since 2012 the 10p is nickel plated steel, not copper anyway

[Divmad]

1 minute ago, BackyardBullion said:

Since 2012 the 10p is nickel plated steel, not copper anyway

Yes, my mistake. But I think it's still true that the 20p and 50p coins are Cupro-nickel.

 

[BackyardBullion]

2 minutes ago, Divmad said:

Yes, my mistake. But I think it's still true that the 20p and 50p coins are Cupro-nickel.

 

Considering 50p is about 10 grams of copper which is probably about 7p worth in copper value and 3p in Nickel value you are basically melting 40p of money.

Add in your overheads for the melting process...