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The simple answer would seem to be mid-1982. When the cost of the copper would have nearly exceeded one cent, the U.S. changed the penny to copper-plated zinc. You can identify these modern zinc cents because they do not "ring" when dropped onto a hard surface... mostly a dull thud.
But the best way to distinguish between the 95% copper pennies (mid-1982 and older) and the newer 97.5% zinc pennies (mid-1982 and newer) is by weight. The dull thud method can be very unreliable and requires a very trained ear. The 95% copper pennies weigh in at about 3.11 grams, while the 97.5% zinc pennies weigh in at about 2.5 grams. This difference in coins of this size is very significant and cannot be mistaken on any reasonable scale which displays at least one place behind the decimal point for grams.
EXCEPTIONS:
The composition of U.S. one-cent coins (the official name) was changed several times. While the earliest cents (1793 into mid-1857) were entirely copper, later cents (mid-1857 into mid-1982) contained 95% copper alloyed with 5% tin and zinc (bronze) or 5% zinc (brass). Before and during the U.S. Civil War, cents had more than twice as much zinc as usual. During World War 2, copper and brass were needed for military use, so the 1943 cents were made of a low-grade carbon steel and coated with zinc (these can be picked up with a magnet), giving them a grey color (they had no copper content). A similar war need for nickel led to the use of silver in the "nickels" made from mid-1942 through 1945 (these had no nickel content).
The final answer, then, would most correctly be: 1943. Since even the newest pennies still use at least 2.5% copper (mostly as the outer plating over the mostly zinc inner core), and all years except 1943 used at least 95% copper in the making of pennies, 1943 is the only year that no copper was used in the making of U.S. pennies.
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When did they stop making solid copper pennies?
Solid copper pennies were last minted in 1857 and were much larger than today's penny. Pennies were made mostly of copper until mid-1982, when the composition was changed to 97.5% zinc with a plating of 2.5% copper. The only exception was in 1943 when wartime copper shortages forced the Mint to make pennies out of scrap steel. Bronze cents were resumed the next year, 1944.
What year did thay quit making weet pennies..............they stop making them in 1959?
they stoper making it in 1958
When did they stop making wheat pennys?
The last year for wheat pennies was 1958.
When did the us stop making copper pennies?
They stopped making copper pennies in 1982. There are some 1982 pennies that are 95% copper and some that are not. 1983 pennies that are 95% exist but are rare and are collectors items.While the above statement would seem to be correct, it is, however, not completely true. The U.S. has never stopped making copper pennies, or pennies with some copper content, except in 1943, when they were made of a low-grade carbon steel and coated with zinc (having a grey color); this change was due to the need for copper and brass during World War II. These 1943 wartime pennies are commonly referred to as "steel" pennies. They contain NO copper...More correctly, 1982 was the last mint year for 95% copper cents. Since mid-1982, the newest (current, as of 2012) composition for U.S. one-cent coins ("pennies") has an inner core alloy of 99.2% zinc with 0.8% copper, with the coin balance as an outer plating of pure copper, for a total coin composition of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper. These current pennies are commonly called "zinc pennies", due to their heavy-majority zinc content, even though they do still contain some copper. The composition of U.S. pennies from mid-1864 to mid-1982 was an alloy of 95% copper with either 5% tin-and-zinc ("bronze" pennies) or 5% zinc ("brass" pennies). Before that, the composition was an alloy of 88% copper with 12% nickel from mid-1857 to mid-1864 (the only time any U.S. pennies ever contained nickel), and, initially, from 1793 to mid-1857, the first U.S. pennies were made of pure (100%) copper.Since the first U.S. one-cent coins in 1793, U.S. pennies have always contained at least some copper, except, again, in the singular case of the year 1943, the so-called "steel" pennies.Therefore, the most correct answer to the question is either:(1) the U.S. has never stopped making copper pennies, except in 1943; or(2) 1943 is the only year the U.S. stopped making copper pennies, or any pennies with NO copper in them.Hope this helps!
When did they stop making pennies out of copper?
Short answer: The last year for copper cents in the U.S. was 1982, when the composition was changed from 95% copper/5% zinc to 97.5% zinc/2.5% copper. If the question was about Canadian cents, those were 98% copper until 1996, before switching to zinc for three years, and changing again to steel in 2000.
What year during world war 2 did they stop making copper pennies?
1943-45
When did pennies stop being all copper?
1860 The last copper pennies were made in England, and the same year the first bronze pennies were made.
What day and year did they stop making pennies?
they still make pennies
When they stop making wheat pennies?
The last year for wheat pennies was 1958.
When did they stop making solid copper pennies?
Solid copper pennies were last minted in 1857 and were much larger than today's penny. Pennies were made mostly of copper until mid-1982, when the composition was changed to 97.5% zinc with a plating of 2.5% copper. The only exception was in 1943 when wartime copper shortages forced the Mint to make pennies out of scrap steel. Bronze cents were resumed the next year, 1944.
What year did thay quit making weet pennies..............they stop making them in 1959?
they stoper making it in 1958
What pennys are copper?
All US pennies made before 1982 are copper, along with some made in 1982 that are copper, however, copper-coated zinc pennies were also used during that year making identification by weighing necessary.
When did they stop making wheat pennys?
The last year for wheat pennies was 1958.
When did the us stop making copper pennies?
They stopped making copper pennies in 1982. There are some 1982 pennies that are 95% copper and some that are not. 1983 pennies that are 95% exist but are rare and are collectors items.While the above statement would seem to be correct, it is, however, not completely true. The U.S. has never stopped making copper pennies, or pennies with some copper content, except in 1943, when they were made of a low-grade carbon steel and coated with zinc (having a grey color); this change was due to the need for copper and brass during World War II. These 1943 wartime pennies are commonly referred to as "steel" pennies. They contain NO copper...More correctly, 1982 was the last mint year for 95% copper cents. Since mid-1982, the newest (current, as of 2012) composition for U.S. one-cent coins ("pennies") has an inner core alloy of 99.2% zinc with 0.8% copper, with the coin balance as an outer plating of pure copper, for a total coin composition of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper. These current pennies are commonly called "zinc pennies", due to their heavy-majority zinc content, even though they do still contain some copper. The composition of U.S. pennies from mid-1864 to mid-1982 was an alloy of 95% copper with either 5% tin-and-zinc ("bronze" pennies) or 5% zinc ("brass" pennies). Before that, the composition was an alloy of 88% copper with 12% nickel from mid-1857 to mid-1864 (the only time any U.S. pennies ever contained nickel), and, initially, from 1793 to mid-1857, the first U.S. pennies were made of pure (100%) copper.Since the first U.S. one-cent coins in 1793, U.S. pennies have always contained at least some copper, except, again, in the singular case of the year 1943, the so-called "steel" pennies.Therefore, the most correct answer to the question is either:(1) the U.S. has never stopped making copper pennies, except in 1943; or(2) 1943 is the only year the U.S. stopped making copper pennies, or any pennies with NO copper in them.Hope this helps!
When did they stop making pennies out of copper?
Short answer: The last year for copper cents in the U.S. was 1982, when the composition was changed from 95% copper/5% zinc to 97.5% zinc/2.5% copper. If the question was about Canadian cents, those were 98% copper until 1996, before switching to zinc for three years, and changing again to steel in 2000.
What is the value of a silver penny1941?
American pennies have been copper in every year except 1943, when copper was scarce and pennies were made of steel. These days, pennies are more zinc than copper.
When was the last copper penny?
The last year for copper US pennies was 1982.
