FAQ

What is a Trade Unit?

Base Metal Trade Units are sealed bags of circulated government-issued coins whose intrinsic value (value of the metal content) now exceeds the face value of the coins.  The coins are processed and packaged by approved businesses who use special sorting equipment and quality control standards to ensure an accurate and consistent product.

What coins are packaged in Trade Units?

See the Coin Bullion page for coins currently available in Trade Units.

Why are Copper Trade Units packaged in 17 and 68 pound bags?

CTUs are packaged to take full advantage of USPS Priority Mail® Flat Rate shipping.  Click here for more information.

Where can I buy Trade Units?

See the Approved Merchants page for a list of dealers and processors who buy and sell Trade Units.

Why is a buying a Trade Unit better than purchasing bulk coins?

Genuine Trade Units are processed and packaged by approved businesses that use specialized equipment to sort the valuable copper and nickel coins from the other zinc and steel coins in circulation.  Approved Processors meet quality control standards that ensure a very high rate of accuracy in both composition (making sure only the desired coins are included in the Trade Unit) and weight (making sure the full advertised weight is included).

Buying and selling bulk coins with other dealers may require one or both parties to have the sorting equipment and time necessary to verify that the coins are of the correct composition, as well as scales to weigh them or coin counters to count them.  Trade Units are sealed with special security features that can be verified quickly, facilitating quick and easy sales between dealers and coin holders alike.  Some Approved Merchants also offer special buy back incentives for Trade Units branded with their business.

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