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Question
What is a penny made of? Is it copper and something else?
Dear Danielle. A penny is an English coin. Here in America we have cents, and they are made of 95.0% copper, 5.0% zinc until 1982. Now the core is 99.2% zinc, 0.8% copper with a plating of 100% pure copper and weighting 2.5 grams. There you have it. Regards. N.
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Answers by Expert:
Neil S Berman
Expertise
Professional Coin Dealer since 1968. Speciality is US Gold Coins by date, but can answer questions about any US, Colonial or Territorial coin made or issued in the United States from 1650 to 1965.
Experience
Wrote: Coin Collecting for Dummies, Investors Guide to US Coins. Please include a photograph if asking about authenticity or value by email to: nsberman@msn.com
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