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If "they" in the question refers to the U.S., the U.S. government, or the U.S. Mint, then 1982 was the last mint year for 95% copper Lincoln cents. Since mid-1982, the newest (current, as of 2012) formulation or 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". 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 pennies ever contained nickel), and, initially, from 1793 to mid-1857, the first U.S. pennies were made of pure copper.
Since the first U.S. one-cent coins in 1793, U.S. pennies have always contained at least some copper, except for 1943, when they were made of a low-grade carbon steel and coated with zinc, having a grey color, due to the need for copper and brass during World War II.
Therefore, the most correct answer to the question is either:
(1) "they" (the U.S.) have never stopped making copper pennies, except in 1943; or
(2) 1943 is the only year the U.S. stopped making copper pennies.
Hope this helps!
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThe US changed the cent's composition in mid-1982. Up till that time "copper" pennies were actually bronze, an alloy of 95% copper and 5% tin and/or zinc. The new composition is 97.5% zinc coated with 2.5% copper, so technically copper is still in use.
Canada removed most copper from its 1¢ coin at the end of 1996. From 1942 till that year the Canadian cent was 98% copper. From 1997 to 1999 Canadian cents were made of copper-plated zinc like their US counterparts. From 2000 to 2012, most cents were made of copper-plated steel although some were also minted in the prior zinc composition. Canada discontinued cent production in May 2012.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoCanadian nickels:
Nickel has never been completely removed from current Canadian 5-cent pieces. Starting in 2000 its use was reduced to only the coin's plating, amounting to 2% by weight, while the rest of the coin is made of a steel/copper alloy.
However, some 5-cent coins were made of a 75% copper / 25% nickel alloy that year as well as in 2001 and 2006.
The only Canadian nickels that didn't contain any nickel metal at all were made during WWII and the Korean War due to metal shortages. These were
- "tombac" (88% copper and 12% zinc) 5-cent pieces were made in 1942-43
- chrome-plated steel nickels were made in 1943-44 and 1951-54
US nickels:
US nickels are still made of a 75% copper / 25% nickel alloy. As in Canada, the only US nickels that didn't contain the metal were wartime coins. From late 1942 to the end of 1945, US 5-cent coins were struck in an alloy of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese. These coins can be identified by a large mint mark letter over the dome of Monticello on the back. In addition they're the only US nickels that ever contained silver.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoCopper was eliminated as the principal metal beginning in 1997.
Prior to that Canadian cents were made of an alloy containing anywhere from 95 to 98% copper, with the remainder being tin and zinc.
From 1997 to 1999 the coins were made of copper-plated zinc, similar to US cents. In 2000 the composition was changed to an alloy of steel and nickel plated with copper.
Canada discontinued all cent production in May 2012.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThe last British general circulation Penny made from copper was minted in 1860. From 1860 onwards, they were made from bronze. Bronze is mostly copper, but it is alloyed with tin and zinc making a much more durable coin.
In 1992, due to the increasing cost of copper, the Royal Mint started making the 1 Penny and 2 Pence coins from copper plated steel, a much cheaper method.
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoUS large cents were struck in pure copper until 1857. Since then the cent has been struck in a variety of compositions including cupronickel (88% copper), bronze (95%), zinc-plated steel (0%), and copper-plated zinc (2.5%)
Canadian cents were never made of pure copper; compositions included bronze (95 to 98% copper), copper-plated zinc (1.6%), and copper-plated steel (4.5%)
British pennies (the only coin of the three with that formal name) were made of copper from 1839 to 1860. Later coins were made of bronze (95% to 97% copper), and copper-plated steel.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago98%-copper cents were minted until 1996. In 1997 the RCM began making cents from copper-plated zinc similar to their American counterparts. That composition was officially changed to copper-plated steel in 2000, but the transition was gradual. Most cents were still made of zinc until 2002 and some continued to be minted in that metal until the denomination was discontinued.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago1997 was they year that they went to 98.4% zinc, 1858-1996 was 95%-98% copper.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoThe last year for copper Canadian pennies was 1996.
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Why did the us stop making pennies out of copper?
Due to the rising price of copper, pennies were worth more than face value.
Did Canada stop making pennies?
Yes, in May 2012.
When did they stop making pure copper pennies?
Pennies were never PURE copper. Those made before 1982 were 95% copper with 5% zinc (or zinc with tin in older ones).
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.
Why did the pennies stop being made of copper?
copper is too expensive and limited.
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 day and year did they stop making pennies?
they still make pennies
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.
When they stop making wheat pennies?
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 U.S. pennies stop being all copper?
1857, unless you're referring to Lincoln pennies, which were only 95% copper until 1982 when they were changed to zinc.
