Yes
The original composition is steel not copper, many have been copper plated.
Current pennies (since 1982) are copper-plated zinc, so the answer is it's covered in copper. The penny is 2.5% copper, and 97.5% zinc. See the related links for a history of penny composition over the years.
A 1983 Lincoln cent is actually copper plated zinc, 1982 was the last year for copper pennies. It's just a penny.
It's copper. &Copper is metal. So yeah.
Some chemical properties of a copper penny include its elemental composition (primarily copper with small amounts of other metals), its reactivity with substances like acids or air (which causes it to oxidize and develop a patina), and its conductivity of electricity due to the free movement of electrons in the metal lattice.
Today, a penny is made of primarily zinc with a thin coating of copper. This composition is known as copper-plated zinc.
Modern US cents are made of copper plated zinc. Starting midway through 1982 the penny switched from bronze to copper plated zinc. So if you have a penny dated 1983-present you for sure have a penny with zinc on the inside.
All pennies minted after 1982 are made of copper plated zinc.
If you refer to the British 1 Penny and 2 Pence coins, they are currently made from copper-plated steel.
US Coins the last year for a copper (actually bronze) penny is 1982. In 1982 the penny was made as a copper coin and a copper plated zinc coin. You have to weigh them to tell the difference. Bronze cents weigh 3.11 gm and zinc ones weigh 2.5 gm. The penny has remained a copper plated zinc since 1982 however there is talk of changing it again to a copper plated steel coin. In 1943 the Lincoln US cent was steel coated with zinc because the copper was needed for ammunition during the War. In 1944 it went back the copper coin. Today the cost of copper is too high to make a solid copper coin/penny. In fact the cost of stamping/minting the coins and raw materials, the penny and nickel cost more to produce than their face value.
No, pennies minted before 1982 are made of 95% copper and 5% zinc, which do not rust like iron or steel. However, over time, they may develop a patina or change color due to oxidation.
A penny can turn green when exposed to acidic liquids like lemon juice or vinegar, which cause a chemical reaction with the copper in the penny to create a greenish patina. Saltwater can also cause a copper penny to turn green over time due to oxidation.