How about giving PHB a two headed coin, providing heads meant yes and tails meant no? IF PHB catches on, then give PHB a wooden nickel to flip. I wouldn't give him a penny.
Pennies, even the zinc ones (mid 1982 on), are worth more in melt value than face value. Even nickels are now worth more in melt value than face value. I must note, however, that it is illegal to melt down US coinage.
A simple way to tell a copper penny to a zinc penny. Pennies dated 1981 and earlier are copper. Pennies dated 1983 and later are zinc. Both copper and zinc pennies were issued in 1982. For these, the drop test works well. A copper penny will ring slightly when dropped on a hard surface. A zinc penny will do more of a thud.
Yes, pennies are now made of zinc, but they are copper plated. I guess that Dilbert thought this was the only way PHB could understand what he was saying.