1982
1982
The last year for 100% pure copper cents was 1857.
1982 was the last year for 95%-copper pennies. And the first year for the zinc pennies. They made both types that year, and the only way to tell them apart is by weight -- the zinc pennies are lighter.Answer100% copper pennies were last minted by the US in 1857. These were large cents, about the size of the "golden" dollar coins. The Flying Eagle and Indian Cents from 1856 to 1864 were 88% copper and 12% nickel. Beginning in 1864 Indian Cents, and later Lincoln Cents, were minted in 95% copper and 5% tin, technically this is bronze. AnswerAnother way to tell the copper penny from the copper coated zinc penny is when a penny is dropped on a hard surface the copper penny will have a ringing sound, the zinc penny will not ring.
The last copper (actually bronze) U.S. cents were struck in mid-1982. Coins from that year exist in both bronze and copper-plated zinc varieties.
There are no exact records of the number of copper pennies made in 1943. It was about 40. Most pennies that year were made of steel.
1860 The last copper pennies were made in England, and the same year the first bronze pennies were made.
1982
The last year for 100% pure copper cents was 1857.
pennies
Pennies are made of zinc and other alloys with a copper coating, pennies made before 1964(or around this year) they were made of just copper. What you see on a penny is not rust but corrosion of the copper coating.
Pennies were made of copper
1982 was the last year for 95%-copper pennies. And the first year for the zinc pennies. They made both types that year, and the only way to tell them apart is by weight -- the zinc pennies are lighter.Answer100% copper pennies were last minted by the US in 1857. These were large cents, about the size of the "golden" dollar coins. The Flying Eagle and Indian Cents from 1856 to 1864 were 88% copper and 12% nickel. Beginning in 1864 Indian Cents, and later Lincoln Cents, were minted in 95% copper and 5% tin, technically this is bronze. AnswerAnother way to tell the copper penny from the copper coated zinc penny is when a penny is dropped on a hard surface the copper penny will have a ringing sound, the zinc penny will not ring.
Pennies produced in 2004 were made from copper-plated zinc. Pennies with 95% copper metal have not been produced since 1982.
No, pennies do not contain gold. Modern pennies are mostly zinc with a little copper, older pennies are mostly copper with a little zinc.
copper
Copper
The last copper (actually bronze) U.S. cents were struck in mid-1982. Coins from that year exist in both bronze and copper-plated zinc varieties.