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Pennies are bronze colored because for many decades they were in fact made of copper or bronze. Those metals were chosen because they were cheap enough that they could be used in enormous amounts to make low-value coins, along with being hard enough to stand up to a lot of wear.
When the price of copper went up in the 1980s the Mint had to choose a cheaper metal to avoid having pennies that were worth more than 1¢ each. Zinc was selected, partly because it's not expensive and partly because the zinc lobby has a lot of influence. Zinc is silvery in color, so to prevent confusion with dimes and to maintain the 200-year tradition of "copper" pennies, the zinc coins are plated with copper so that they look almost like their older bronze cousins.
What else can I help you with?
How do you know if a penny is copper or bronze?
The easy way is by the date. 1909 to 1958 (except the 1943 steel coins) are bronze. 1959 to 1981 are a copper alloy that technically is not bronze. 1982 was the transition year from a copper alloy to the zinc cents we now have. Coins of both compositions exist only for 1982 dated coins. 1983 to date are zinc.
Why do pennies have zinc in them?
Pennies are made of zinc with a thin copper plating to reduce cost. This change was made in 1982 to save money, as zinc is cheaper than the bronze used previously. The copper plating gives pennies their traditional color and appearance.
How do you tell the difference between a zinc and bronze penny?
A bronze penny has a reddish-brown color due to its copper content, while a zinc penny has a silver appearance. You can also check the date on the penny, as pennies made before 1982 are bronze and those made after are zinc.
When did the composition of the pennies change?
The composition of the United States penny changed from primarily copper to primarily zinc in 1982. Pennies made before 1982 are composed of 95% copper and 5% zinc, while those made after 1982 are 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper.
What are 1950 pennies made of?
In 1950, US cents were made of a bronze alloy containing 95% copper with the remaining 5% being a varying mixture of tin and zinc.
What metal was used for George fifth pennies?
Bronze.
Are there any capped 1957 wheat pennies bronze composite NO d?
All wheat pennies are bronze, so please be more specific and post new question.
Are pennies bronze?
No, modern pennies in the United States are not made of bronze. Since 1982, they have been primarily made of zinc with a thin copper plating. Prior to that, from 1909 to 1982, pennies were made of 95% copper and 5% zinc, which is often referred to as bronze, but the current composition is different.
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.
Are all 1964 British Halfpenny's bronze?
All British predecimal Pennies, Halfpennies and Farthings minted since 1860 are bronze.
How do you know if a 1922 British Halfpenny is bronze?
All British general circulation predecimal Pennies, Halfpennies and Farthings were made from bronze from 1860 to 1967.
What is a lightweight,rustproof,silvery-colored , and non-magntic metal?
Bronze
Why were bronze pennies discontinued?
The cost of minting them. Today's pennies are zinc (cheap) coated with a copper wash, and still cost more to make than they are worth.
How do you tell if you have a 1941 copper penny?
All 1941 pennies are made of bronze which is mostly copper.
What is the name of the greenish bronze colored deep water freshwater fish?
bream
How many 1943 bronze pennies were made?
Verry few most likely less than 100
What are new pennies made of?
Since 1982, US pennies have been made of zinc with a thin copper coating. The specific percentages are 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper.
