A copper round costs $6.50, and it is a real piece of metal with a design struck into it, which is a rare combination in a gift under $10. This guide picks a design for seven kinds of person, says what each one actually shows, and covers the practical parts: shipping, how many to buy, and ordering in time.
A fair warning first. These are gifts, not investments. The copper in one is worth well under a dollar (we work it out in how much a 1 oz copper coin is worth), and what you pay for is the design. That is exactly why they suit a gift: nobody has to feel they were meant to be careful with it.
Seven ideas, by who you are buying for
A child who loves dinosaurs
The Tyrannosaurus Rex round shows the head of a T. rex in profile with its jaws open, with its name lettered around the rim. A solid piece of copper is heavier in the hand than its size suggests, which makes it feel like more than a toy.
Anyone who likes animals
The Ice Age Saber-Toothed Tiger round is part of an Ice Age series. The cat prowls through grass under the words THE ICE AGE, with its name below.
Someone who loves the outdoors
The Bison round shows an American bison standing in prairie grass. The American Prospector round has a miner kneeling at a stream and panning for gold, a good one for anyone who has ever wanted to try it.
A history reader
Three rounds follow real U.S. coin designs. The Buffalo Nickel round takes the profile from the Buffalo nickel, designed by James Earle Fraser and struck from 1913 to 1938 (see the history of the Buffalo nickel). The Walking Liberty round follows Adolph Weinman's design for the half dollar, struck from 1916 to 1947 (see the Walking Liberty half dollar). The Morgan Dollar round follows the silver dollar designed by George T. Morgan, struck from 1878 to 1904 and again in 1921.
A banknote collector
Two copper bars carry a copy of the face of an old banknote. The $1 Black Eagle Note bar copies the Series 1899 silver certificate, named for the large eagle at its center. The $10 Bison Note bar copies the Series 1901 United States Note, with its bison between portraits of Lewis and Clark. The paper originals are serious collectors' items, selling for well over a hundred dollars even when worn, so the bar is a way to own the design for a few. For more on bars, see copper bars versus copper rounds.
A seventh anniversary
Copper is the traditional gift for the seventh wedding anniversary, and a round is a simple way to honour it. Our guide to copper anniversary gifts explains the tradition and which designs suit whom.
A stocking, a Secret Santa, a party favour
Anything above works. The only decision is how many to buy, and shipping makes that an easy one.
How many to buy
Shipping is a flat $5.00 per order, free from $75.00, and it is the same whether you buy one piece or eleven. So a single round comes to $11.50, while three different designs come to $24.50, which is a gift for three people or a small set for one. Free shipping starts at twelve rounds.
Making it look like a gift
We do not offer gift wrapping or gift messages. A small coin capsule or a Mylar flip protects the round and makes a tidy way to hand it over, and it is the right kind of holder for copper. Avoid soft PVC flips, which can damage the surface; our guide to storing copper rounds explains why.
Is it really copper?
Yes. The rounds and bars are .999 fine copper, which is 99.9% pure, and not plated. The bars are stamped to say so.
Ordering in time
Orders leave within 1 to 2 business days of payment and take 3 to 7 business days by USPS, insured and tracked. That is up to about 9 business days, so allow two weeks to be safe and order early for a holiday. We cannot promise a delivery date. If yours is tight, Thomas takes calls monday to saturday, 8am to 6pm, on (505) 518-2288 before you order.