The only 100% copper US cents were Large Cents made from 1793 to 1857.
Small cents made from 1856 to the middle of 1864 were made of an alloy of copper and nickel.
Cents made from mid-1864 to 1942 and from 1944 to the middle of 1982 are made of bronze, an alloy of 95% copper and 5% tin and/or zinc.
All US cents made after mid-1982 are copper-plated zinc.
Pennies were never PURE copper. Those made before 1982 were 95% copper with 5% zinc (or zinc with tin in older ones).
The last year for 100% pure copper cents was 1857.
ask Barack Obama
No, pre-1982 pennies are 95% copper and post-1982 pennies are made out of mostly zinc with a thing copper coating
-In 1943, pennies were made out of steel instead of copper. A 1943 pure copper penny is a rare mint error, and is worth lots.
Pennies were never PURE copper. Those made before 1982 were 95% copper with 5% zinc (or zinc with tin in older ones).
The last year for 100% pure copper cents was 1857.
ask Barack Obama
No, pre-1982 pennies are 95% copper and post-1982 pennies are made out of mostly zinc with a thing copper coating
Well, you could... However, pennies are not pure copper. By the time the buyer would melt out the other metal, you probably would not get 1-cent for each penny. I mean, think about it...If copper pennies contained a lot of pure copper, everyone would be taking pick-up trucks full of pennies to sell as copper. But no one does, because it is not pure copper and has little value even after being melted. You'd be better off saving your pennies and buying yourself a CD -- at least the music would give you some enjoyment.
Because the price of copper is more than a penny is worth. Small 1-cent coins (1856-present) have never been made of pure copper. Their highest ever copper content was 95% copper, mixed with tin and/or zinc. The only US cents ever made from pure copper were Large Cents made up to 1857.
Pennies were made of pure copper until 1975, because it costed more than 100 pennies just to make a penny.
Older pennies weigh more because they were made using a higher percentage of copper in their composition, whereas newer pennies have a lower percentage of copper and are mostly made of zinc. The difference in composition accounts for the difference in weight between old and new pennies.
No circulating British coin contains any silver at all.British Pennies have not been made from pure copper since 1860. From 1860 to 1991, British Pennies were made from bronze with a large percentage of copper in the alloy.From 1992 onward, all British Pennies are made from steel with a copper plating.
The materials used to mint pennies has changed. Originally, pennies were made of almost pure copper. Today, British pennies are made of nickel/steel blanks coated in copper, and US "pennies" (actually cents) are made of zinc blanks coated in copper.
-In 1943, pennies were made out of steel instead of copper. A 1943 pure copper penny is a rare mint error, and is worth lots.
pure Copper from 1793 - 1857 Copper & Nickel from 1856 - 1864 Copper, Tin & Zinc from 1864 - 1942 Zinc coated Steel in 1943 Copper, Tin & Zinc from 1944 - 1981 Copper plated Zinc from 1982 -