Studies have shown that man has used copper since the dawn of civilization. Indeed, as early as 8 B.C., man first used copper to mint coins; not long afterward, man began to use copper to make various forms of decoration and also to make various tools. Because copper is both very flexible and highly resistant to corrosion, over time man has found many uses for it. Because brass is made from combining copper with zinc, and combining copper with tin forms bronze, it is used in the manufacture of ammunition, cars, cell phones and other forms of telecommunication, cooling systems, computers, door knobs and plaques, electrical wiring, heating systems, light bulbs, locks, mailboxes, microwaves, musical instruments, plumbing, printing presses, radios, refrigerators, telescopes, televisions, and tools, to name just a few of the numerous items that copper is found in.

Though U.S. pennies minted before mid-1982 contain over 95% copper, since then pennies have been minted from zinc and only have a copper coating. The reason for the change from copper to zinc is that copper is worth more than the face value of a penny. Because pennies minted during the last 30 years have only a negligible amount of copper and the United States has outlawed both melting pennies and sending pennies abroad to have them melted, many individuals who are interested in obtaining this metal for investment do so by acquiring copper bullion.

The Increasing Value of Copper

Tough inflation in the United States decreases the value of paper currency -- the dollar is worth only what you can acquire with it. Indeed, several studies suggest that from its creation in 1913, the value of the dollar has decreased more than 90%. During the same period, as society has become much more technological, due to which manufacturers have been using a substantial amount of copper, which causes its value to increase. This makes copper a wise choice for investors, both in the United States and abroad. Beyond that, the demand of investors for copper increases its value, which in turn increases the desire of investors for it. The spiral continues, benefitting both copper and those who invest in it. In the last decade, the value of copper has risen dramatically.

Copper Bullion Bars

There are a wide variety of copper bullion bars available for serious investors. A primary strength of bullion bars is that the investor can obtain a significant amount of copper very easily. Learning the amount of your investment in copper takes little time, the bars are easy to store as well as trade and because they are very appealing, they make excellent gifts. Beyond that, because copper is a precious metal and a significant portion of it has yet to be extracted, many financial analysts opine that its value will continue to rise.