Metal finishing Q&As since 1989
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Why are pennies all zinc?
Why were pennies changed to all zinc coated in copper between 1982 and 1983?
Stephen J- Beloit, WI
The intrinsic value of the copper began to approach one cent so there was risk that people would get pennies for one cent and melt them down and sell the copper for more than one cent.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Cost.
James Watts- Navarre, Florida
Stephen,
I believe the reason was because the value of the copper used to make the penny (combined with the cost of minting them) exceeded the value of the penny.
Marc Green
anodizer - Boise, Idaho
$$$$$ (my keyboard can't make a cent sign) It's a heck of a lot cheaper to make pennies from zinc rather than copper. I'd figure the amount of copper that would go into a solid copper penny would be worth a lot more than 1 cent. Ever since the Gold Standard disappeared, all of our coins and notes are backed up by gold (let's hope).
Hope that helps,
Jake KochG. J. Nikolas &Co.,Inc.
Bellwood, Illinois
Actually, none of our money is backed up by anything but faith in the judgement and ethics of CEO's and BOD's of our major energy corporations.
Tom Pullizzi
Falls Township, Pennsylvania
Good one Tom. I always thought they quit minting copper pennies because there was a rumor going around that putting a copper penny in your mouth just prior to using a Breathalyzer machine would effectively distort the test's results. I heard it shoots the reading to above a 5 BAC, which is usually only reserved for dead drunk people. Who knows if its true, I'm sure there are unfortunate folks out there who are digesting pennies.
Jake KochG. J. Nikolas &Co.,Inc.
Bellwood, Illinois
Boy, Tom.. now THERE is a comforting thought!
Marc Green
anodizer - Boise, Idaho
Come on guys! Lay off Tom because he's right! Haven't you ever wondered why there are no longer tours inside Fort Knox?!
Laure Stephens- New Bern, North Carolina, US
Would you guys calm down and really talk about pennies instead of your personal information. Some people read these to find out info.
Alex M [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Ladoga, Indiana, USA
Alex, we did not build this site solely for your personal convenience in minimizing how much time you spend on your homework :-)
Feel free to read the portions you wish, and to post your questions, but it is not up to you to decide what what this site should be about, or to criticize people for their postings.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
The Answer: It's true that in 1943 the content of pennies was changed from copper to zinc-coated steel due to a copper shortage during WWII.
Amanda Sarabia- Redondo Beach, California
Hey all you penny fans! I am doing a lab experiment in Chemistry and need to know what the pre-1983 penny was made of. We put three pennies (one made in 1977, one in 1988, and one in 2000) in hydrochloric acid and the 1977 penny was the only one that did not crumble in my hands after being in this acid for 24 hours. I did not understand that so I was wondering if anyone had any information on it. Thanks!
Suzanna Heavnerantiques - Crown Point, Indiana, United States
The one cent coin was composed of 95% copper and 5% zinc and tin before the middle of 1982.
Jack H. Beymer- Los Angeles, California, USA
2006
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