Pennies have been made from different metals throughout their history in the United States. The metal composition of pennies has changed multiple times, from pure copper to bronze, and eventually to zinc.
The Origins of the Penny
The first official one cent coin produced by the U.S. Mint was made of pure copper and was minted in 1793. The original penny was quite large, nearly the size of today’s half dollars. It was designed by Benjamin Franklin and featured a portrait of Lady Liberty on the obverse side.
These early pennies were made of 100% copper and remained this composition until 1837. By that time, the large pure copper pennies had become increasingly expensive to produce as the price of copper rose. Additionally, the softness of the coins led to wear and damage in circulation.
Transition to Bronze Pennies
In 1837, the penny shifted composition to a bronze alloy of 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc. This change was made to help make the coins more durable in circulation.
Pennies remained struck in 95% copper bronze through 1859. In 1864, the composition was changed slightly to bronze containing 88% copper and 12% nickel, making the coins lighter in weight.
Indian Head Pennies (1864-1909)
In 1864, the penny design shifted from the Liberty head to the Indian Head pattern. The Indian Head penny, also known as the Indian Head cent, was designed by James B. Longacre and featured a representation of Lady Liberty wearing a Native American headdress on the obverse.
These Indian Head pennies were struck in the 88% copper and 12% nickel bronze alloy through 1864. In 1865, the bronze composition was changed back to 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc.
Key Dates for Indian Head Pennies
Some of the key dates and mintage details for the Indian Head cent series include:
| Year | Mintage |
| 1864 | 39,233,714 |
| 1864-L | 430,000 (rare) |
| 1877 | 852,500 |
| 1908-S | 1,115,000 |
| 1909-S | 309,000 |
The 1909-S Indian Head cent, struck at the San Francisco mint, is the key date of the series and highly sought-after by collectors.
Transition Back to Pure Copper (1910-1942)
In 1910, the Indian Head design was replaced by the Lincoln cent to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. The original Lincoln penny featured the iconic Wheat Ears reverse designed by Victor D. Brenner.
The Lincoln Wheat cent reverted to a pure copper composition containing 95% copper. This was changed to 97.6% copper in 1912, giving the coins a distinctive reddish appearance.
Lincoln Wheat cents remained struck in 97.6% copper through 1942, toward the end of World War II. However, in 1943, the composition was changed to zinc-coated steel due to copper shortages during the war.
Steel Cents of 1943
In 1943, pennies were produced using zinc-coated steel planchets rather than copper due to massive shortages of copper. The steel pennies were still struck with Lincoln’s portrait on the obverse and the wheat ears design on the reverse.
The 1943 steel cents have proven very popular with collectors and numismatists over the years. While over 1 billion were produced, many were later retrieved and melted down when copper shortages ended in 1944.
Key Facts on 1943 Steel Pennies
- Composition: Zinc-coated steel
- Color: Silver-grey appearance
- Weight: Approx 2.7 grams
- Mintage: 1,093,838,670
A few 1943 bronze cents are also known to exist, making them quite rare and valuable.
1944 – 1962: Shell-Cased Copper and Tin Pennies
In 1944, with copper shortages ended, the U.S. Mint returned to making pennies from copper alloy. However, instead of using pure copper, the coins were struck in an alloy composed of 95% copper, 5% zinc.
This brass alloy continued to be used for Lincoln cents from 1944 through 1962. Unlike the earlier bronze and copper cents, these newer coins had a shiny golden appearance when newly minted.
Mint Marks and Varieties
Key dates and mintmarks to look for during the copper-zinc cent years include:
- 1944-D/S (over mintmark variety)
- 1955 Doubled Die Obverse
- 1959-D Lincoln cent with Large Date variety
These varieties can be quite valuable to collectors when found in high grades.
Modern Zinc Pennies (1982 to Today)
The current “modern” zinc cent composition was introduced in 1982. That year saw the shift from 95% copper cents to the cheaper zinc alloy that is still used today.
Pennies minted from 1982 onwards have the following metallic composition:
- 97.5% zinc
- 2.5% copper plating
This change occurred due to rising prices for copper and the need to mint affordable pennies at a low cost. While no longer containing much copper, the 2.5% copper plating gives modern pennies the traditional coppery red coloration.
The numismatic community initially decried the change, collecting many of the older high-copper pennies. However, over time the zinc cents have become generally accepted and billions remain in circulation today.
Rare and Valuable Pennies
While most pennies have minimal value, there are certain rare dates, mintmarks, and varieties that can be quite valuable to collectors. Here are some of the most famous rare pennies:
- 1943 Bronze Cent – Only 12-15 known, worth $100,000+ in mint state
- 1944 Steel Cent – 20-30 exist, struck on steel blanks reserved for 1945
- 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse – Very rare, worth thousands in AU/UNC grade
- 1992 Close AM – Rare die variety, worth $20,000+ in mint state
Condition is very important for rare coin values. Well-worn specimens are usually only worth small premiums over face value. But mint state examples of great rarities can be valued in the hundreds to millions of dollars.
The Future of the Penny
In recent years, some have called for the discontinuation of the penny due to its minimal purchasing power and high production costs. However, defenders of the penny point to its ongoing usefulness for commerce and the desire many have to keep the iconic coin.
For now, the zinc cent continues to circulate and likely will for the foreseeable future, despite fluctuations in its metal composition and purchasing power over the decades.
The history of the penny illustrates the many changesUnited States coinage has undergone throughout the centuries to keep up with economic and material demands, while retaining traditional designs that honor America’s leaders, ideals and symbols.
Conclusion
In summary, the key changes to the composition of the U.S. penny are:
- 1793-1837: Pure copper penny
- 1837-1857: Bronze (95% copper, 5% tin and zinc)
- 1857-1864: 88% copper and 12% nickel penny
- 1864-1962: 95% copper penny (except 1943 steel cents)
- 1962-1982: 95% copper, 5% zinc penny
- 1982-today: 97.5% zinc penny with copper plating
While originally made from pure copper, rising metal prices and increased production demands eventually forced shifts to cheaper metals like zinc. Nevertheless, the iconic penny has persisted for over 200 years and adapted to serve the economy’s small change needs through various metallic compositions.