Spot as of Oct 22, 2026 6:25 PM · $1 move in copper changes this coin by $0.0068
What this coin is
The Newfoundland small cent is a copper coin of Canada struck 1938–1947. This page is for the type × composition — every date and mint of this issue has the same metal if the weight and fineness match the spec below. Melt is that metal times today’s spot, not a collector or dealer bid.
What is written on the coin
Look for CANADA, DOLLARS, and the monarch (Victoria through Charles III). Maple Leaf bullion is marked 9999 and the ounce size. A 1967 $20 gold piece shows only 1967. A 2017 gold-plated lookalike shows both 1967 and 2017 and a P under the Queen. Canadian $100 gold proofs are 14k or 22k — the weight decides which melt page to use.
Metal content (the melt spec)
Mint specification: 3.2400 grams at 95% copper, which is 3.078 g / 0.00679 lb of copper (ACW). Copper is priced per pound. Formula: grams × fineness ÷ 453.59237 × copper $/lb. Date and mintmark do not change that number. Melt today is $0.0439 per coin at $6.4725/lb copper.
Mintage
Mintage varies by date. We do not publish a year-by-year mintage table here because melt is the same for this composition. A scarce date or a high grade can be worth more than melt; a common worn piece is often near melt.
A little history
This type belongs to the 1938–1947 period in Canada. Use the date on the coin to confirm you have this composition, not a later clad or debased issue of the same design.
How to tell you have this type
Match denomination, metal color, and date range. If two compositions share a design (for example 90% vs clad), the date or the edge (solid silver vs copper stripe) decides which page to use.
Date and mintmark do not change the metal on this page. Collector value is a different market — a shop looks at date, mint, and condition. Melt is the floor.
Same look, different composition: Newfoundland large cent. Use the page that matches what you actually have — karat and weight change the melt.
Copper is a base metal, quoted in dollars per pound (Kitco), not per troy ounce. Melt here is the copper in the coin at that bid. Collector cents are usually worth more as coins than as scrap. Zinc cents from 1982-on have almost no copper.
If you want to sell Find a shop near you
A local coin shop can look at what you have. Melt may not be the whole story — dates and condition matter.
Before you sell
Copper melt (base metal)
These are collector coins. Melt is a tiny floor. Do not scrap a cartwheel, large cent, or token until you have checked the type.
Melt is the metal floor. A shop looks at date, mint, and condition. We list 437 types and ~11,000 melt values.
Quick amounts
Using $6.4725/lb copper.
| You have | Pure oz | Melt |
|---|---|---|
| 1 coin | 0.0990 | $0.0439 |
| 10 coins | 0.9896 | $0.4392 |
| 20 coins | 1.9792 | $0.8784 |
Melt alert
Email me if this coin’s melt crosses a number I set.
Questions people ask
How much copper is in a Newfoundland small cent?
Mint spec is 3.240 grams at 95% copper, which is 3.078 g / 0.00679 lb of copper. Copper is priced per pound, not per troy ounce. Date and mintmark do not change that.
What is a Newfoundland small cent worth in melt today?
At copper spot of $6.4725/lb, one coin’s melt is $0.0439. Multiply by how many you have. A collector copper is usually worth more as a coin than as scrap.
How many Newfoundland small cents equal one pound of copper?
About 147.37 coins equal 1.00 lb of copper at mint weight.
Does mintmark change the melt value?
No. Mintmark and date do not change the metal for this composition. A Mexico City (Mo) piece and another mint of the same spec have the same melt. Collector premiums still follow date, mint, and grade.
Is melt what I should sell this Newfoundland small cent for?
Copper is priced by the pound, not the troy ounce. Melt here is the copper in the coin at Kitco’s copper bid. Collector coppers are usually worth more as coins than as scrap. These are collector coins. Melt is a tiny floor. Do not scrap a cartwheel, large cent, or token until you have checked the type.
Does every coin that looks like this have the same melt?
No. See also the Newfoundland large cent — same look, different composition (karat, plating, or a later weight cut). Melt only applies to the spec on this page.
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