Before the 2008 financial crisis, the value of copper in (UK) 2 pence pieces was worth more than 2 pence. For a short while it was economically worthwhile to me

Before the 2008 financial crisis, the value of copper in (UK) 2 pence pieces was worth more than 2 pence. For a short while it was economically worthwhile to melt the two pence pieces down for copper. At the same it was also worth risking life to pull down the electric cables on the UKs electrified train lines (east coast).