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What is a penny made of after 1982?
Some 1982 pennies used the 97.5% zinc composition, while others used the 95% copper composition. With the exception of 2009 bicentennial cents minted specifically for collectors, United States cents minted after 1982 have been zinc with copper plating.
Which metal was likely used to make pennies after 1982?
So for the past 30 years, pennies have been made with an alloy comprised of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper, but pennies minted before 1982 are 95% copper and 5% zinc. The price of copper has more than quadrupled over the past 10 years. So a penny produced before 1982 is worth 2.2 cents based on the metal it contains.
What material were pennies made of before 1982?
Before 1982, pennies were forged of 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc. However, as copper became more expensive, it was abandoned as the primary metal. Pennies are now made of a zinc core and a thin copper coating.
What makes a 1982 penny valuable?
Which 1982 Penny Is Worth The Most? The most valuable 1982 penny is a transitional error caused by the move from 95% copper to 99.2% zinc composition. It’s the 1982-D “small date” Lincoln Memorial cent made from copper. There wasn’t supposed to be any “small date” bronze Lincoln cents struck in Denver in 1982.
Is a 1982 penny rare?
Only one has been discovered so far, but relatively few people take time to really search their 1982 pennies, too. The average circulated 1982 penny is worth 2 cents or less — so most people don’t think of these old pennies as having much value.
What are the 7 different 1982 pennies?
What are the 7 different 1982 pennies?
- 1982 brass large date.
- 1982 brass small date.
- 1982 zinc large date.
- 1982 zinc small date.
- 1982-D brass large date.
- 1982-D zinc large date.
- 1982-D zinc small date.
How do I know if my 1982 penny is worth money?
The 1982 obverse doubled die copper large date penny is also valuable, but it’s worth considerably less than the small date zinc double die. A piece of the other 1982 penny varieties in uncirculated grade is worth $2 to $4.
How can you tell if you have a 1982 penny?
If your Lincoln Memorial penny has a date before 1982, it is made of 95% copper. If the date is 1983 or later, it is made of 97.5% zinc and plated with a thin copper coating. For pennies dated 1982, when both copper and zinc cents were made, and best way to determine their composition is to weigh them.
How can you tell if you have a 1982 D small date penny?
1982 Small Date Penny vs. You’ve got to check the alignment of the tops of each numeral in the date to see if you’ve got a small date or large date penny: On a 1982-D Large Date penny, the tops of the “9” and “8” in the “1982” date will appear higher than the “1” and the “2”
How can you tell if a 1982 penny is different?
How much is a 1982 copper small Date penny worth?
How much is a 1982 penny worth? The average circulated 1982 penny is worth 2 cents or less — so most people don’t think of these old pennies as having much value. If you’re diligent, you might find a 1982-D Small Date copper penny or another valuable error coin like it.
What was the content of the penny before 1982?
In 1943, the content of the coin was changed to zinc coated steel because of the copper shortage during World War II. Before 1982, pennies were 95% copper and 5% zinc. Then after 1982, the compostion was 97.6% zinc, and 2.4% copper. So this means that the pennies made before 1982 will have a different mass from those made after 1982.
What was the composition of the first penny?
The composition of the penny was pure copper from 1793 to 1837. Then following that, it was made of bronze, and in 1857, it was made out of copper. In 1943, the content of the coin was changed to zinc coated steel because of the copper shortage during World War II.
What’s the percentage of copper in a penny?
If so then you could have some copper pennies. The pre-1982 pennies are 95% copper. Because of their copper content, these coins are worth about twice their face value. The modern pennies after the year 1982 are 97.5% zinc and only 2.5% copper.
What was the content of the US penny before World War 2?
Then following that, it was made of bronze, and in 1857, it was made out of copper. In 1943, the content of the coin was changed to zinc coated steel because of the copper shortage during World War II. Before 1982, pennies were 95% copper and 5% zinc. Then after 1982, the compostion was 97.6% zinc, and 2.4% copper.