How much zinc is in a penny?

Answer 1

The mint gradually transitioned to the current copper-plated zinc composition in mid 1982.

Old bronze stock was used up first, plus there were slight modifications to the design that didn't completely coincide with the composition change. As a result there are actually 7 different varieties of cent from that year!

If you have a 1982 cent, about the only way to tell what it's made of is to weigh it on a sensitive scale. A bronze cent will weigh about 3.11 gm while a zinc one will weigh 2.5 gm

Answer 2

If you're referring to a US 1¢ coin, the first US cents were made in 1793.

If you're referring to British pennies, that denomination dates back to the 8th century AD. The first pennies that were used throughout Britain were minted in the late 10th century under King Eadgar*

(*) The spelling IS correct; names were not standardized for many centuries.

Answer 3

The price of copper increased during the early 1980s, and by 1982 it cost the Mint more than 1 cent to mint each cent. Trial strikes in different metals were made but a combination of price and lobbying by zinc producers convinced the Mint to switch from solid bronze to copper-coated zinc. The change was made in the middle of 1982, so coins with that date may be made of either composition.

The best way to tell them apart is to use a scale capable of weighing at the gram level. A bronze cent weighs about 3.11 gm, while a zinc cent comes in at about 2.5 gm.

Answer 4

Zinc has been used in cents on two different occasions.

Cents were struck in zinc-coated steel during 1943 as a way to save copper for the war effort. Copper was restored in 1944.

In mid-1982 the price of copper had increased to more than one cent per coin, so in the middle of that year the mint switched to a zinc core plated with a thin layer of copper. This is the current composition of the cent.

Also, FWIW, the coin is a penny, not a "pennie"

Answer 5

It changed in mid-1982. When the price of copper increased the Mint was forced to make cents out of copper-plated zinc instead of bronze.

Answer 6

the Lincoln penny was made in 1909 by victor d brennen

Answer 7

Copper shortage in WWII. Copper for bullets and "Zinc/steel" for pennies. Afte WWII was over the pennies went back to copper.

Answer 8

Because they were made of steel. The zinc was meant to prevent rusting.

Answer 9

Pennies were made out of pure copper from 1793-1857. Today, pennies are mostly made of zinc but coated with copper.

Answer 10

how much zinc does a penny have in it