Bank of Upper Canada halfpenny token melt value

What this coin is

The Bank of Upper Canada halfpenny token is a copper coin of Canada struck 1850–1857. 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: 8.1000 grams at 100% copper, which is 8.100 g / 0.01786 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 $0.1156 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 We do not publish a year-by-year mintage table here because melt is the same for this composition.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 1850–1857 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: Bank of Upper Canada penny token. 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.