what is an american penny made of?

[riya]

I’m curious about what an American penny is made of. I know coins can be made from different metals depending on the year they were minted. Could someone explain the materials that go into making a penny and if the composition has changed over time? Thanks in advance!

 

[danisjohn]

An American penny is primarily made of zinc with a thin copper coating. Since 1982, pennies have been 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper. This change was made to reduce production costs. Despite its copper appearance, the modern penny is mostly zinc inside, making it lighter and cheaper to manufacture.

 

[Gsusangrey]

The U.S. penny (one-cent coin) is 97.5% zinc with a 2.5% copper plating. This composition replaced pure copper in 1982 to reduce costs while maintaining the coin's appearance and durability.

 

[niyati]

An American penny is primarily made of zinc with a thin copper coating. Since 1982, pennies have been composed of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper. Before that, they were mostly 95% copper. The change was due to rising copper prices.