The exact answer to what a new penny is made of is a copper-plated zinc core.
What is a New Penny Made Of?
A new U.S. penny, specifically those minted since 1982, is primarily composed of zinc with a thin copper plating. This distinguishes it from older pennies, which were predominantly copper.
Composition Details
The modern penny's composition is a precise blend designed for durability and cost-effectiveness. It consists of:
- 97.5% Zinc (Zn): This forms the core of the coin.
- 2.5% Copper (Cu): This thin layer coats the zinc core, giving the penny its familiar reddish-brown appearance.
This specific material choice makes the penny lightweight yet sturdy enough for everyday circulation. The change in composition in 1982 was primarily due to the rising cost of copper, making it economically unsustainable to produce pennies from solid copper.
Physical Specifications of a Modern Penny
Understanding the composition also involves its physical attributes. Here's a breakdown:
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Composition | Copper Plated Zinc (2.5% Cu, Balance Zn) |
| Weight | 2.500 grams |
| Diameter | 0.750 inches (19.05 mm) |
These specifications ensure consistency across all modern pennies produced by the United States Mint. You can learn more about circulating coins on the U.S. Mint's official website.
Why the Change from Copper?
Before 1982, U.S. pennies were made almost entirely of copper (95% copper, 5% zinc). The shift to a zinc core was an economic decision:
- Cost Efficiency: As the price of copper increased, the metal content of a 95% copper penny began to exceed its face value, making it unprofitable to mint.
- Resource Management: Using a less expensive and more abundant metal like zinc helped conserve copper resources.
This change means that while they look similar, a penny from 1981 feels significantly heavier than one from 1982 or later, and they even sound different when dropped due to their varied densities.
Identifying a Zinc vs. Copper Penny
While looking at the mint date is the most accurate way to identify the composition, you might also notice:
- Weight: Older copper pennies (pre-1982) feel noticeably heavier.
- Sound: A modern zinc penny tends to have a higher-pitched 'clink' when dropped compared to the duller 'thud' of a copper penny.
- Corrosion: Damaged modern pennies sometimes reveal their zinc core, which can corrode differently than copper, often appearing as a grayish, rougher texture underneath the copper plating.
Understanding the materials that make up a new penny provides insight into the economics and manufacturing processes behind one of the most common coins in circulation.
