The major composition changes to US cents are:
Since mid-1982: copper-plated zinc. The zinc core makes up 97.5% of the coin while the plating amounts to the remaining 2.5%.
From mid-1864 to 1942 and 1944 to mid-1982: a bronze alloy composed of 95% copper and 5% tin and/or zinc.
1943: cents were struck in zinc-plated steel to save copper metal for the war effort.
Flying eagle and early Indian head cents: an alloy of 88% copper and 12% nickel
Large cents: pure copper
There have been occasional minor variations to these compositions over the years.
The metal composition of a US five cent coin (nickel) minted in 1988 is 75% copper and 25% nickel.
A 1963 US penny is made of 95% copper and 5% zinc. The composition of US pennies changed in 1982 to being made of primarily zinc, with a copper coating.
The 2007 penny is made out of copper-plated zinc. It has a composition of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper.
The last 5-cent nickel made of pure nickel was in 1883. The composition changed to a mix of metals due to the scarcity and cost of nickel. Since then, all nickels have been made with a copper and nickel alloy.
A 50 cent piece in the United States is made of a combination of copper and nickel, with a composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel. This composition gives the coin its distinct appearance and durability.
A 1955 Lincoln cent is Bronze, it has a composition of .950 copper and .050 tin & zinc.
The 2008 US Cent is composed of a 99.2% zinc and .8% copper core with a plating of pure copper.
Because the rise in value of copper made pennies worth more than one cent.
electrum" which is a natural composition of 75 per cent gold and 25 per cent silver.
The metal composition of a US five cent coin (nickel) minted in 1988 is 75% copper and 25% nickel.
A 1963 US penny is made of 95% copper and 5% zinc. The composition of US pennies changed in 1982 to being made of primarily zinc, with a copper coating.
US quarters (25 cent coins) were 90% silver through 1964, changing to a cupro-nickel clad composition in 1965.
1 US cent has the same value the world over! i.e. 1 US cent
The 2007 penny is made out of copper-plated zinc. It has a composition of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper.
The first US cent issued by the United States Mint was the Large Cent in 1793.
The 1970 US Lincoln Cent is composed of 95% copper and 5% zinc. The current copper plated zinc-core composition was introduced in mid 1982.
A Circulated 1983 US Cent is worth its face value.Starting in 1982 The US Mint changed the composition of cents from Copper to Copper-Plated Zinc due to the rise in cost of Copper.