What are US pennies made of?

Answer 1

Today's pennies (since 1982) are made almost entirely of zinc, with a thin outer coating of copper.

AnswerInformation corrected based on PCGS data, and merged 02/2009

• Large cents (1793-1857) : 100% copper
• Flying Eagle and early Indian cents (1857-mid 1864) : 87.5% copper, 12.5% nickel, also known as NS-12
• Indian head and Lincoln cents (mid-1864 to 1942 and 1946-61 : bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc)
• Lincoln cents (1943) : 1943 zinc-coated steel due to wartime copper shortages. (Note: These are sometimes called "silver" or "lead" cents by people who aren't aware they're really steel.)
• Lincoln cents (1944-46, 1961-mid 1982) : brass (95% copper, 5% zinc)

Actually, modern pennies(post 1982) are 97.5% Zinc with the remaining 2.5% being electrolytically plated copper. Up till 1982, pennies were made from and alloy composed of 95% Copper, 2-3% Zinc and 2-3% Tin.

Additionally, the 1943 "wartime penny" or the "steel penny" was made of steel with zinc plating, so that copper could be saved for military use. A few of these pennies were accidentally minted early in 1943 with bronze blanks left over from 1942, and are prized by collectors.

Answer 2

US pennies are made of copper-plated zinc, with a thin layer of copper coating over a zinc core. This composition has been in use since 1982, when the Mint transitioned from using a predominantly copper coin to a lighter, less expensive zinc alternative.