The Five Ounce Copper Round

Here we have the 5 OZ AVDP (Avoirdupois) Copper Token

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Copper is measured differently than Silver

While silver and gold are measured in Troy oz, copper is measured in Avoirdupois ounces - a measurement used since the 13th century. Five Avoirdupois is slightly less than 5 Troy ounces.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avoirdupois

This thing is really big.

Putting this piece of metal next to a half-dollar, the size becomes apparent. It makes the $0.50 piece look small.

It's thick also, about three time the thickness of a typical coin. The reeded edges are really deep and feel good in your hand.

Brief history of the "Reeded" edge.

Most people are accustomed to the reeded edges of some coins. While the copper penny and nickle are smooth, the dime and quarter and half-dollar and dollar coins are all have milled edges so they have a texture to it.

Back when our money had metal value, people would try to "save money" by clipping or filing the edges of their silver coins. They would melt their silver dust and clippings for tradable silver nuggets. Reeded edges make this process almost impossible to get away with, since it would become apparent that the coin has been damaged and some of the metal value filed or clipped away. Feel the edge for the reeded edge to know it's fully intact.

An Unclipped silver coin.

A clipped silver coin.

Silver Bullet and Silver Shield

What I find fascinating about tokens is not just the value stored in the metal, but also the story. Every metal has a story behind it and that story is what makes the object have value.

The Silver and Bullet Silver Shield became famous for it's witty and social and/or political messages. Launched September 2012, Silver Bullet Silver Shield began creating their own unique and striking coin designs. They created a niche market of collectors all focused on a single message:

Physical silver, in any form, held by an individual, is both a defense against inflation and against the destructiveness of fractional banking. It is the idea that acquiring silver is a direct way to expedite the collapse of the fragile, fraudulent banking system. It is the reminder to our society that physical silver is both the bullet and the shield that defend us in the war that we face today, against our values and our self-esteem. Adding this message here, since most people gloss over long quotes. This round will be given to the first to ask for it. It is the idea that we know our values and will not give them up. It is the idea that we know our principles and will not see them ignored. It is the idea that we own our selves, and will not lay down and stop fighting. Ideas, as we know, are bulletproof.

Over the next several years, the coins became very popular among underground trading websites and eBay. They eventually caught the attention of the largest bullion dealers and they became available for sale online.

The Silver Shield Five OZ Copper Token is difficult to find anymore.

If you look hard enough, you may find a few for sale on eBay or other sites, but they are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Most people who purchase one of these big rounds are not too willing to part with them.

I purchased this round from SD Bullion, which they have since discontinued. AMPEX was selling a tube of 20 of these giants! That's gotta be impressive to hold! Of course it's discontinued now.

Source: https://www.apmex.com/product/88159/2015-5-oz-copper-round-warbird

Do you own any copper?

I hope you have found this article interesting. I'd like to hear your comments down below. What do you think about the 5 oz copper round? Do you own any copper in your collection?

@ironshield