Looking through Coinflation's Archives I found two articles of interest.
February 18, 2005 the copper closed the day with the cent being higher than face value.
http://www.coinflation.com/greshams_law.html
"For example, copper settled at $1.5126/lb on Friday, February 18. Using the calculations below, the pre-1982 cent that weighs 3.11 grams and a metal composition of 95.0% copper/5.0% zinc has a metal value of $0.01006437 (roughly 100.64% its denomination value)."
October 8, 2004 copper touched being higher than face value of the cent.
http://www.coinflation.com/10092004.html
"Mark today's date on your calendar. The base metal value of the pre-1982 copper cent has surpassed its purchasing power. Copper closed at 1.4875/lb making the 3.11 gram copper cent worth $0.01003."
Ten years worth of inflation and see what we have become. Any ideas on how we should celebrate, commemorate, commiserate?