The original 50 cent coins from 1966 have a silver content which makes their real value much greater than 50 cents.
They worked that out pretty fast when they realised that it was costing them a thousand dollars to make 500 dollars worth of 50 cent coins.
So they changed the metal to some cheap rubbish.
Mean sods!

Yes. Thems theys.

They were also a problem because old people had trouble telling the difference between 50 cents and 20 cent pieces.

You mean they were Catholics?? That's just deplorable.
Thats taking special dispensations from the pope just tooo far.

How would the government find out? I'm sure if you went on the interweb and search on how to melt down copper and nickel it would not be too difficult to do. A little furnace and some gear. I don't know how much it would cost to set up. Plus its probable the price you get for your copper would be less than the going market rate.

If you were properly set up I think it would be a reasonable business. You buy say $100 worth of 5 cent coins for $100. Melt them down and get around $140 worth of metal out of them. It may probably cost you $10 to melt the coins down and then you sell them for the cost of another $10.

Hmm. Sounds like a bit of work for not much profit. Perhaps its better to make meth amphetamines, better profits and probably the same amount of risk. It would be a similar experience, going round getting 5 cent pieces and getting cold medicine. If the American police found out you were either cook meth or melting 5 cent pieces they'd probably treat you very similarly.

There was a classic currency stuff up in south africa a few years back where it was cheaper to use coin instead of nickel washers for boat building. I know quite a few ended up at sea before they rectified the cock up.