How does one find out if a penny is made of copper or zinc?

Answer 1

You can tell if a penny is made out of zinc or copper by the date on the penny. If the date is before 1982 then the penny is 95% copper. Pennies dated 1983 or later are 97.5% zinc with a thin copper coating.

Answer 2

One way to determine if a penny is made of copper or zinc is to look at the date. Pennies minted before 1982 are mostly copper, while those minted after 1982 are mostly zinc with a copper coating. You can also conduct a simple acidity test by dropping a small amount of vinegar on the coin; if it turns green, it is likely copper.