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U.S. cents have never been struck in iron.
Perhaps you're referring to cents struck in 1943 from zinc-plated steel. Copper is an important metal for making ammunition, so the Mint had to use a different metal to help the war effort.
The coins were not satisfactory - When new they were confused with dimes, and after a few months they rusted or turned a dirty gray color. By 1944 the Mint had collected enough used ammo shells that they could return to minting from copper.
By accident a small number of copper blanks got mixed in with steel ones at each mint, so there are about 2 dozen or so 1943 copper cents. These are quite famous and sell for many thousands of dollars.
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∙ 15y ago
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When was the silver penny made?
The US never made silver pennies. In 1943 the US made steel pennies. These are often mistaken for silver pennies.
Are the 1970s pennies different from the 1990s pennies?
Yes, in the 1970s pennies were made of 95% copper while in the 1990s they were made of about 97% zinc.
What year did they stop putting the wheat sign on the back of pennies?
These pennies are called "Wheat Pennies". They were last made in 1958.
Were 1950's pennies made of cooper?
Pennies from 1982 and before were all copper
Were there any pennies in the 1940s made of gold?
No, but in 1943 US pennies were made from steel coated zinc. These have become a collector favorite.
Does pennies have iron in it?
No. A penny is made out of copper-plated zinc.
Is a penny an magnet?
No. Pennies were made of copper (Now US pennies are made of copper plated zinc) Magnets are made of iron or other ferro-magnetic metals.
Can copper pennies rust?
NO!!! Because they are made of copper NOT iron.
Are pennies ferromagnetic?
Pennies are currently made of zinc with a thin copper plating. Neither copper nor zinc are magnetic and will be attracted to anything but an extremely strong magnetic field.
Are coins iron?
Most coins nowadays are not made of iron. Most coins in the United States are made of Nickel and Copper (small amounts of Copper in pennies).
What makes pennies rust?
Pennies don't rust. Rust technically speaking is iron oxide and pennies have little to no iron. They do however oxidize, tuning them green from the copper which makes up most of the metal they are made from.
Why does a nail rust faster than a penny?
Nails are made of iron, but pennies are copper and zinc. Iron reacts with oxygen to form rust, but copper on the outside of a penny does not.
Why do some British pennies stick to the magnets when others did not?
British Pennies and Twopences minted from 1992 onwards are made from copper plated steel. Steel being an alloy of iron and other things, is magnetic. Earlier British Pennies and Twopences were made from bronze which is mostly copper. Copper is a non-ferrous metal and has no magnetic properties.
When was the silver penny made?
The US never made silver pennies. In 1943 the US made steel pennies. These are often mistaken for silver pennies.
What are you S Pennies made of?
Pennies today are made of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper.
Are the 1970s pennies different from the 1990s pennies?
Yes, in the 1970s pennies were made of 95% copper while in the 1990s they were made of about 97% zinc.
Why would a magnet not attract to old coins?
A magnet only attracts certain metals- primarily iron. Those old coins were not made of iron, but silver, copper and nickel. No reason they SHOULD be attracted by a magnet. Except 1943 US pennies, which WERE made of steel.
