Mint: Don't melt money Government threatens prison for violators; at current prices the metal value of the coins may exceed their face values. December 14 2006: 3:10 PM EST.

Dec 14, 2006 — -- Find a penny, pick it up, and all day you'll have good luck. Find a penny, melt it, and you could get locked up. Effective today, the U.S. Mint has implemented an interim ...

The Royal Mint has warned people who might consider melting down 1p and 2p copper coins to think again. With copper prices topping $9,000 a tonne, pre-1992 copper coinage is now worth twice its face ...