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This is a potentially difficult question to answer, based on its vagueness. We'll try to answer what we think is meant, and give some extra information which may also be helpful...
If, in this question, the "they" means, or refers to, the U.S. government or the U.S. Mint, then the answer would be mid-1857. From 1793 into mid-1857, the U.S. minted 100% pure copper one-cent coins ("pennies"). 1857, then, would be the last year the U.S. minted pure copper pennies.
In mid-1857, the denomination's size was reduced to its current 19 mm and the composition was changed to an alloy of 88% copper and 12% nickel. This composition remained into mid-1864, when the long-standing 95% copper makeup first came into use. The 1857-1864 pennies are the only pennies, and the only time period, when U.S. pennies contained any nickel. Since mid-1864, the pennies have consistently been an alloy of 95% copper with the balance being either 5% tin-and-zinc ("bronze" pennies) or 5% zinc ("brass" pennies). The only exception was the 1943 "steel" pennies, described further below.
"Lincoln" cents were NEVER made of purecopper. They were also struck in the copper-heavy "bronze" or "brass" alloy consisting of 95% copper and 5% tin-and-zinc or 5% zinc (as mentioned above), except in 1943, when they were composed of a low-grade carbon steel and coated with zinc, to save copper for the war effort (World War II). The so-called "Lincoln pennies", so named for having Abraham Lincoln's profile on the front (obverse), started in the year 1909, with a wreath formed from a pair of wheat ears on the rear (reverse). These pennies from 1909-1958 have further been nicknamed "wheat pennies" to distinguish them from the "Lincoln Memorial" pennies, from 1959-2008, due to this monument replacing the wheat wreath on the reverse. For 2009 only, the reverses were changed to four alternating scenes from Lincoln's life. In 2010, the reverse was changed again to the "Union Shield", as it remains today (2015), and onward...
Mid-1982 was the last year for pennies made mostly of copper. Again, U.S. pennies were 95% copper, from mid-1864 up until mid-1982, except for the zinc-coated "steel" pennies in 1943. In 1982, two versions of the cent were produced: the 95% copper alloy (first part of year) and the copper-coated zinc cents (last portion of year), which composition is still used today. Officially, from 1983 onward, all U.S. cents intended for circulation have been the newer copper-coated zinc variety.
How can one tell if a 1982 U.S. cent is MAJORITY copper or not? Anything to do with spinning it?
NO. The most certain way to tell the difference is by weight. The mid-1982-and-earlier pennies have a total coin weight of about 3.11 grams, being composed mostly of copper (95%), while the mid-1982-and-newer pennies have a total coin weight of about 2.5 grams, being composed mostly of zinc (97.5%). In a coin this size, a difference of approximately more than one half of a gram is very significant, and is practically foolproof, even on any reasonably inexpensive scale, so long as it displays grams to at least the first position behind the decimal point! (These newer pennies have an inner core of 99.2% zinc alloyed with 0.8% copper and an outer plating of pure copper, for a total coin composition of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper.) [We could add, then, that since mid-1982 and later, there actually is PURE copper ON the cents, but only on the outer layer or plating...]
As a safe bet, one might even weigh the 1983 pennies due to the possibility of some leftover 95% copper blanks at the mint accidentally being stamped as 1983 pennies! If true, these should turn out be quite rare and worth something extra!
Two final points of clarity:
(1) excepting the 1943 "steel" pennies, since all other years of U.S. pennies have retained at least some minimal copper content, we can not truly say that there are no copper pennies anymore; they all are "copper" pennies in the sense that they do have some copper, and that they retain at least some copper on the exterior (outside) surface so as to retain the "appearance" of copper pennies.
(2) Since the original question does not specify who "they" means, if "they" refers to anyone other than the U.S., such as Canada, or Australia, or Great Britain, etc., we will leave that for some other time or some other contributor...
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When did they stop making pure copper pennies?
Pennies were never PURE copper. Those made before 1982 were 95% copper with 5% zinc (or zinc with tin in older ones).
When did the US stop minting wheat pennies?
Wheat cents were made from 1909 to 1958.
Why did the us stop making pennies out of copper?
Due to the rising price of copper, pennies were worth more than face value.
Why did the US stop using copper pennies and start using zinc pennies?
The price of the copper used to make a penny cost more than a penny.
When did U.S. pennies stop being all copper?
1857, unless you're referring to Lincoln pennies, which were only 95% copper until 1982 when they were changed to zinc.
When did they stop making pure copper pennies?
Pennies were never PURE copper. Those made before 1982 were 95% copper with 5% zinc (or zinc with tin in older ones).
When did the US stop minting wheat pennies?
Wheat cents were made from 1909 to 1958.
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.
Why did the pennies stop being made of copper?
copper is too expensive and limited.
Why did the us stop making pennies out of copper?
Due to the rising price of copper, pennies were worth more than face value.
Why did the US stop using copper pennies and start using zinc pennies?
The price of the copper used to make a penny cost more than a penny.
When did U.S. pennies stop being all copper?
1857, unless you're referring to Lincoln pennies, which were only 95% copper until 1982 when they were changed to zinc.
When did the us stop making copper pennies?
They stopped making copper pennies in 1982. There are some 1982 pennies that are 95% copper and some that are not. 1983 pennies that are 95% exist but are rare and are collectors items.While the above statement would seem to be correct, it is, however, not completely true. The U.S. has never stopped making copper pennies, or pennies with some copper content, except in 1943, when they were made of a low-grade carbon steel and coated with zinc (having a grey color); this change was due to the need for copper and brass during World War II. These 1943 wartime pennies are commonly referred to as "steel" pennies. They contain NO copper...More correctly, 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", due to their heavy-majority zinc content, even though they do still contain some copper. 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 U.S. 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, again, in the singular case of the year 1943, the so-called "steel" pennies.Therefore, the most correct answer to the question is either:(1) the U.S. has never stopped making copper pennies, except in 1943; or(2) 1943 is the only year the U.S. stopped making copper pennies, or any pennies with NO copper in them.Hope this helps!
When did the stop making the copper pennies?
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!
What year during world war 2 did they stop making copper pennies?
1943-45
When did they stop making solid copper pennies?
Solid copper pennies were last minted in 1857 and were much larger than today's penny. Pennies were made mostly of copper until mid-1982, when the composition was changed to 97.5% zinc with a plating of 2.5% copper. The only exception was in 1943 when wartime copper shortages forced the Mint to make pennies out of scrap steel. Bronze cents were resumed the next year, 1944.
When did pennies stop being coper?
1982 although they are still coated with copper the inside is now zinc
