That’s a great idea, but copper pennies are getting rare. I think I’ll ask for the change in nickels, which are also worth more than their face value. They have more copper in them than today’s pennies do, being made of 75% copper, 25% nickel.
Copper pennies are about 20% of a $50.00 random “bag”, actually box of rolls from a bank. Wheat pennies are really getting hard to find.
I try to get a $25 box of pennies every time I go to the bank. I consistently come away with 1/3 pre-1982 copper. As more people get wise, I'm sure that percentage will go down.
I also grab as many $2 rolls of nickles as they're willing to part with.