Pennies minted before 1982, which includes all wheat pennies (except in 1943) contain 95% copper and weigh 3.11 grams.
All of them were supposed to be made of steel, however there were a few copper coins accidentally struck that year. Its extremely rare to come across copper pennies from that year.
Because they are errors. All 1943 pennies were supposed to be made out of zinc coated steel, however, a handful of copper blanks from 1942 still remained in the machine when it was switched on and US mint employees did not catch the error until the coins had reached circulation. It was a coin that wasn't supposed to exist.
1982. Since then pennies have been mostly zinc with just a little copper.As the immediate above statement includes the word copper as part of the answer, which part is, in fact, true, then 1982 is not the answer to the question after all...If the "the(y)" part of the question above refers to the U.S., the U.S. government, or the U.S. Mint, then 1982 was the last mint year for 95% copper cents. Since mid-1982, the newest (current, as of 2012) composition for U.S. one-cent coins ("pennies") has an inner core alloy of 99.2% zinc with 0.8% copper, with the coin balance as an outer plating of pure copper, for a total coin composition of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper. These current pennies are commonly called "zinc pennies". The composition of U.S. pennies from mid-1864 to mid-1982 was an alloy of 95% copper with either 5% tin-and-zinc ("bronze" pennies) or 5% zinc ("brass" pennies). Before that, the composition was an alloy of 88% copper with 12% nickel from mid-1857 to mid-1864 (the only time any pennies ever contained nickel), and, initially, from 1793 to mid-1857, the first U.S. pennies were made of pure (100%) copper.Since the first U.S. one-cent coins in 1793, U.S. pennies have always contained at least some copper, except for 1943, when they were made of a low-grade carbon steel and coated with zinc, having a grey color, due to the need for copper and brass during World War II. These are commonly referred to as "steel" pennies (they contain NO copper)...Therefore, the most correct answer to the question is either:(1) "they" (the U.S.) have never stopped making copper pennies, except in 1943; or(2) 1943 is the only year the U.S. stopped making copper pennies, or made pennies with NO copper in them.Hope this helps!
Pennies from 1982 and before were all copper
No.
No, wheat pennies were primarily made of copper during 1909-1942 and in 1944-1958. In 1943, due to copper shortages during World War II, steel pennies were minted which are distinctly different in appearance.
Pennies minted before 1982, which includes all wheat pennies (except in 1943) contain 95% copper and weigh 3.11 grams.
Pennies are supposed to be all copper through 1981. In 1982 some are and some are not, and after 1982 all are clad.CorrectionThe last 100%-copper cents were struck in 1857. Since then the composition of the cent has been changed many times, starting with a copper-nickel alloy from 1857 to 1864, then various varieties of bronze (95% copper), steel (1943), and eventually copper-plated (not clad) zinc beginning in mid-1982.
All of them were supposed to be made of steel, however there were a few copper coins accidentally struck that year. Its extremely rare to come across copper pennies from that year.
No, the 1943 bronze wheat penny is not magnetic because it is made of bronze, which is not attracted to magnets. Only the 1943 steel pennies, which were produced due to a shortage of copper during World War II, are magnetic because they are made of steel.
It's made of steel, as were nearly all 1943 pennies due to WWII copper shortages. Please see the Related Question for more information.
Because they are errors. All 1943 pennies were supposed to be made out of zinc coated steel, however, a handful of copper blanks from 1942 still remained in the machine when it was switched on and US mint employees did not catch the error until the coins had reached circulation. It was a coin that wasn't supposed to exist.
1860 The last copper pennies were made in England, and the same year the first bronze pennies were made.
All 1942 pennies are made of bronze. In circulated condition they sell for a few cents. However in uncirculated condition, it could sell in a MS state between $5 to $7,500 depending on what MS it is and Which mint produced it.You may be thinking of the famous 1943 Copper penny. in 1943 copper was saved for the war effort which meant pennies were to be made from steel and zinc.A slip up by mint staff meant a few copper blanks were left in the machine and a handful of 1943 COPPER pennies were put into circulation.These coins can fetch up to $400,000 plus!!!
Pennies from 1982 and before were all copper
1982. Since then pennies have been mostly zinc with just a little copper.As the immediate above statement includes the word copper as part of the answer, which part is, in fact, true, then 1982 is not the answer to the question after all...If the "the(y)" part of the question above refers to the U.S., the U.S. government, or the U.S. Mint, then 1982 was the last mint year for 95% copper cents. Since mid-1982, the newest (current, as of 2012) composition for U.S. one-cent coins ("pennies") has an inner core alloy of 99.2% zinc with 0.8% copper, with the coin balance as an outer plating of pure copper, for a total coin composition of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper. These current pennies are commonly called "zinc pennies". The composition of U.S. pennies from mid-1864 to mid-1982 was an alloy of 95% copper with either 5% tin-and-zinc ("bronze" pennies) or 5% zinc ("brass" pennies). Before that, the composition was an alloy of 88% copper with 12% nickel from mid-1857 to mid-1864 (the only time any pennies ever contained nickel), and, initially, from 1793 to mid-1857, the first U.S. pennies were made of pure (100%) copper.Since the first U.S. one-cent coins in 1793, U.S. pennies have always contained at least some copper, except for 1943, when they were made of a low-grade carbon steel and coated with zinc, having a grey color, due to the need for copper and brass during World War II. These are commonly referred to as "steel" pennies (they contain NO copper)...Therefore, the most correct answer to the question is either:(1) "they" (the U.S.) have never stopped making copper pennies, except in 1943; or(2) 1943 is the only year the U.S. stopped making copper pennies, or made pennies with NO copper in them.Hope this helps!