Almost all the most valuable pennies materials changed two times because of important reasons, the first change being temporary during World War II in 1943, and the second change becoming permanent in the early 1980s because of money problems.
Both of these big changes were directly caused by the price of the metal going up a lot.
The biggest and strangest change in the penny’s material happened in 1943. Before this year, starting in 1909, the coin was made mostly of copper, having 95% copper and 5% zinc or tin.
World War II
When the United States entered World War II at the end of 1941, the country urgently needed important materials for military needs.
Copper was one of the most important metals for the manufacture of military items. The army used a huge amount of this metal to make bullets, military vehicles, electrical wires, and other military tools.
The US government, managing all the country’s resources, decided to send all the available copper to the army and navy, giving this metal a new, more important job.
- Even with the war going on, the mint could not stop making the one-cent coins. These small coins were still absolutely necessary for all daily shopping, paying small taxes, and working in vending machines.
- The Mint had to find a new, cheap material to replace the old copper alloy quickly, understanding the serious situation.
The Mint looked for a metal that was easily found, available in large amounts, and good for making coins → they thought about using things like plastic or glass but said no to these ideas.
Finally, they chose low-carbon steel, this material not being a critical resource that the army needed.
Making the Steel Penny
In 1943, the US Mint started making the cent coin from steel with a thin zinc layer over it.
- The inside was steel , and the outside had a thin layer of zinc. The zinc layer was necessary for stopping the coin from rusting too fast and for making the coin look lighter and silver-like.
Problems with the Steel in Daily Use
Steel is a magnetic material, unlike copper, caused big problems for vending machines and counting machines, which were set up to work only with non-magnetic copper coins.
The zinc covering could not protect the steel perfectly. When the zinc layer broke, the steel inside started to rust quickly when water touched it, changing the coin from silver-like to a rusty brown color.
The steel pennies, having a silver color, were often mistaken for the dimes, creating confusion when people paid with them at the store or trying to determine the token without a coin identifier.
Going Back to Copper
The problem with the steel and zinc was fixed in 1944. By this time, the copper situation was a little better — the Mint went back to making the penny with a 95% copper alloy.
Because of small errors in the making process, a very small number of copper pennies were made in 1943, and a very small number of steel pennies were made in 1944.
The Zinc 1982 Permanent Change
By the early 1980s, the market price for copper went up very fast. For the first time, the cost of the copper needed to make just one cent coin was more than the coin’s value.
- If the metal inside the coin costs more than its value, people start taking the coins out of use and melting them for the metal to make money.
This problem, creating a shortage of coins and causing the Mint to lose money, demanded a fast answer.
- The Mint had to find an alloy, keeping the usual look of the coin, giving it a long life, but containing a metal that cost much less than the coin’s value.
Making the Copper-Plated Zinc Coin in 1982
In 1982, the material of the penny was completely changed.
Almost completely made of pure zinc, making this part very cheap.
A thin layer of pure copper, which is put on the zinc core, keeping the coin’s familiar red color.
| Time Period | General Material | Copper Content | Weight |
| Before 1982 | 95% Copper, 5% Zinc/Tin | 95% | 3.11 grams |
| Since 1982 | Copper layer on Zinc Core | 2.5% | 2.50 grams |
In 1982, the Mint made coins using both materials, using different styles of letters on them. Today, collectors can find seven different kinds of 1982 pennies and to see info on them using a coin value checker app.
When the thin copper layer gets damaged, the zinc core touches the outside air. Zinc, reacting with the air and water, forms large bubbles and white dirt, destroying the coin over time.
The coin became lighter, requiring changes to be made to counting machines and vending machines, but this problem caused fewer issues than the magnetic steel of 1943.
Today’s Situation
Up to this day, the one-cent coin is still made from the alloy with a zinc core and a thin copper covering, keeping its traditional look.
Both historical material changes for the one-cent coin happened because there was a need to save important resources, whether for the army or for the economy.
In 1943, it was copper for military use, and in 1982, it was the need to stop losing money and stop the melting of coins because the copper was too expensive.
Each change, leaving its mark on the history of money making, shows the clear connection between the price of raw materials and the material used for the money people use every day.