I'm told that pennies are a mixture of zinc and copper and that the copper may have come off, but every penny I ever cut, flattened, drilled through, filed, whatever, has looked like copper all the way through. This penny is NON COPPER.
2007-08-05 00:08:07 · 2 answers · asked by bob6foot4 1 in Games & Recreation ➔ Hobbies & Crafts
From 1909 through1958 with the exception of the 1943 zinc coated steel cent, all cents are considered bronze, that is .950 copper and .50 tin and zinc, they weigh 3.11 grams. From 1959 through part of 1982 the cents are considered copper, but are listed as .950 copper and .50 tin and zinc, they too weigh 3.11 grams. The tin was reduced so I guess that is why they are listed as copper. From the last part of 1982 to date the cents core is .992 zinc and .008 copper with a plating of pure copper, thus the coin ends up as being .975 zinc and .025 copper. It however weighs only 2.5 grams. Hope this helps.
2007-08-05 08:28:20 · answer #1 · answered by Taiping 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pennies were copper until 1982. In 1982 the made a mix of copper plated zinc and completely copper coins. After 1982 all coins were copper plated.
If you really want to know if the coin is zinc (and don't mind destroying it) you can dip it in hydrochloric acid and the zinc will dissolve. If you have a penny with the copper still on it will leave only the copper shell.
2007-08-05 10:28:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋