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Why did the US stop using copper pennies and start using zinc pennies?
The price of the copper used to make a penny cost more than a penny.
What was the last year of the copper penny?
US Coins the last year for a copper (actually bronze) penny is 1982. In 1982 the penny was made as a copper coin and a copper plated zinc coin. You have to weigh them to tell the difference. Bronze cents weigh 3.11 gm and zinc ones weigh 2.5 gm. The penny has remained a copper plated zinc since 1982 however there is talk of changing it again to a copper plated steel coin. In 1943 the Lincoln US cent was steel coated with zinc because the copper was needed for ammunition during the War. In 1944 it went back the copper coin. Today the cost of copper is too high to make a solid copper coin/penny. In fact the cost of stamping/minting the coins and raw materials, the penny and nickel cost more to produce than their face value.
What year did they change what they put in pennies?
The U.S. has changed the composition of the cent several times.From 1793-1857 the penny was made of 100% copper.1857-1864 the penny was made of 88% copper and 12% nickel.1864-1942 The penny was bronze being made of 95% copper, and 5% tin and zinc.In 1943 the penny was called the 1943 steel cent because it was made of zinc-coated steel.From 1944-46 the cent was brass and made of 95% copper and 5% zinc.From 1946-1962 the penny was bronze and made of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc.From 1962-1982 the penny was again brass and made of 95% copper and 5% zinc.The most recent change was in mid-1982. The penny is 2.5% copper, being plated in pure copper. The core is made of zinc, 97.5%. The price of copper increased and the penny was cost more to make than it was worth.The penny still costs more to make than it's worth. As of 2010 it costs 1.79 cents to make a single penny.
How much do a 1961 penny cost?
About 2 cents due to copper content, though pennies that old sometimes turn up in circulation.
What is a 3 inch copper penny 1972 s value?
These cost about $3 or $4 in a home-supply store. They're coasters, not real coins.
How much is a copper coated wheat penny cost?
No such coin exists. All wheat pennies (with the exception of the 1943 steel cent) are 95% copper and are not copper plated (as the copper-plated zinc cents made from 1982-present). Wheat pennies can be found for as low as 3 cents in worn circulated condition (or found in pocket change!) and uncirculated specimens for common dates can be found for as low as $1.
Why did the US stop using copper pennies and start using zinc pennies?
The price of the copper used to make a penny cost more than a penny.
What was the last year of the copper penny?
US Coins the last year for a copper (actually bronze) penny is 1982. In 1982 the penny was made as a copper coin and a copper plated zinc coin. You have to weigh them to tell the difference. Bronze cents weigh 3.11 gm and zinc ones weigh 2.5 gm. The penny has remained a copper plated zinc since 1982 however there is talk of changing it again to a copper plated steel coin. In 1943 the Lincoln US cent was steel coated with zinc because the copper was needed for ammunition during the War. In 1944 it went back the copper coin. Today the cost of copper is too high to make a solid copper coin/penny. In fact the cost of stamping/minting the coins and raw materials, the penny and nickel cost more to produce than their face value.
Why did they change the penny's materials?
with rising costs of copper and labor it cost more than a penny than a pennyis worth
How much does a 1939 wheat penny cost?
About 5 cents if in circulated condition or a couple of bucks if uncirculated. It isn't a rare date.
What year did they change what they put in pennies?
The U.S. has changed the composition of the cent several times.From 1793-1857 the penny was made of 100% copper.1857-1864 the penny was made of 88% copper and 12% nickel.1864-1942 The penny was bronze being made of 95% copper, and 5% tin and zinc.In 1943 the penny was called the 1943 steel cent because it was made of zinc-coated steel.From 1944-46 the cent was brass and made of 95% copper and 5% zinc.From 1946-1962 the penny was bronze and made of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc.From 1962-1982 the penny was again brass and made of 95% copper and 5% zinc.The most recent change was in mid-1982. The penny is 2.5% copper, being plated in pure copper. The core is made of zinc, 97.5%. The price of copper increased and the penny was cost more to make than it was worth.The penny still costs more to make than it's worth. As of 2010 it costs 1.79 cents to make a single penny.
What is a circulated 1983 Copperless penny worth?
A Circulated 1983 US Cent is worth its face value.Starting in 1982 The US Mint changed the composition of cents from Copper to Copper-Plated Zinc due to the rise in cost of Copper.
Why would the increase in the price of copper cause the mint to change the composition of pennies?
Because copper is the chief metal in a US penny. Actually, a penny has cost more to produce than it's face value for quite some time. They make it up in dimes and quarters.
Are the one penny coins from England today made from copper or bronze?
Neither. Since 1992, all British 1 Penny and 2 Pence coins have been made from steel with copper plating. This is an international trend to reduce the cost of manufacturing low denomination coins.
How much do a 1961 penny cost?
About 2 cents due to copper content, though pennies that old sometimes turn up in circulation.
Why get rid of the penny?
There has been talk of eliminating the US penny for many years. Before they switched from the bronze alloy penny to the copper clad zinc penny it cost about 3 cents to mint every penny. Even the copper clad zinc penny costs more than a penny to mint. Of all standard issue US coinage only the nickel (5¢) and the penny cost more than their face value to mint.
What is a 3 inch copper penny 1972 s value?
These cost about $3 or $4 in a home-supply store. They're coasters, not real coins.
