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Metal finishing Q&As since 1989
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Why are pennies made of copper not silver like other coins?
Why are pennies made of copper?
Jessica F6th grade - Colorado Spgs, Colorado
2006
Pennies are made with a zinc core that is copper plated. The cost of making a coin has the be less that the value of the coin. If pennies were made of silver, people could buy them for a penny, and melt them and sell the metal.
![Ted Mooney, finishing.com](../portraits/ted_mooney_beach.jpg)
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2006
As a bit of trivia, the penny no longer costs less than one cent to make. Source: http://www.usatoday.com/money/2006-05-09-penny-usat_x.htm
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Ray Kremer
Stellar Solutions, Inc.
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McHenry, Illinois
![stellar solutions banner](../chemicals/stellar/stellar.png)
2006
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