The major composition changes to US cents are:
Since mid-1982: copper-plated zinc. The zinc core makes up 97.5% of the coin while the plating amounts to the remaining 2.5%.
From mid-1864 to 1942 and 1944 to mid-1982: a bronze alloy composed of 95% copper and 5% tin and/or zinc.
1943: cents were struck in zinc-plated steel to save copper metal for the war effort.
Flying eagle and early Indian head cents: an alloy of 88% copper and 12% nickel
Large cents: pure copper
There have been occasional minor variations to these compositions over the years.
All U.S. nickels minted since 1866 (except for 1942-1945) are 75% copper and 25% nickel.
A 1963 Lincoln cent has a composition of .950 copper and .050 zinc. This copper alloy was used from 1962 to 1982.
Beginning in 1982 the composition of the US cent was changed to a coin with a core of 99.2% zinc and 0.8% copper with a plating of pure copper.
According to the US Mint website 5 cent coins are still in production. However, between the years 1942 and 1945 it wouldn't have been correct to call them nickles because there wasn't any nickel in them. Nickel was being conserved for the war effort and 5 cent coins were made of silver, copper, and manganese.
A 50 cent piece in the United States is made of a combination of copper and nickel, with a composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel. This composition gives the coin its distinct appearance and durability.
A 1955 Lincoln cent is Bronze, it has a composition of .950 copper and .050 tin & zinc.
The 2008 US Cent is composed of a 99.2% zinc and .8% copper core with a plating of pure copper.
Because the rise in value of copper made pennies worth more than one cent.
electrum" which is a natural composition of 75 per cent gold and 25 per cent silver.
1 US cent has the same value the world over! i.e. 1 US cent
All U.S. nickels minted since 1866 (except for 1942-1945) are 75% copper and 25% nickel.
US quarters (25 cent coins) were 90% silver through 1964, changing to a cupro-nickel clad composition in 1965.
A 1963 Lincoln cent has a composition of .950 copper and .050 zinc. This copper alloy was used from 1962 to 1982.
The first US cent issued by the United States Mint was the Large Cent in 1793.
It's still worth one cent US.
Beginning in 1982 the composition of the US cent was changed to a coin with a core of 99.2% zinc and 0.8% copper with a plating of pure copper.
The 1970 US Lincoln Cent is composed of 95% copper and 5% zinc. The current copper plated zinc-core composition was introduced in mid 1982.