answersLogoWhite

0

Copper is a common metal, is relatively durable and the value of the metal will not exceed the face value of the coin. However, in the USA copper is no longer the primary metal in pennies. The price of copper has gone up to the point where there's more than 1¢ worth of copper in a penny, so back in 1982 the Mint changed the coin's composition to a zinc core plated with a thin layer of copper. In fact, the coin is now 97.5% zinc so there aren't copper pennies anymore.

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago

What else can I help you with?