1943. In that year, cents were minted of zinc-plated steel. But in 1944, they were once again made from 95% copper.

In 1982, the composition of U.S. Cents changed to copper plated zinc. Prior to that, composition ranged from nearly 100% copper to 88% copper, with 95% copper being the norm since mid-1864.

In 1943. For that year…

To nitpick, they are still made with copper. However, it is just a copper shell, over a core of zinc.

However, the mint stopped making the mostly-copper penny in 1982. They experimented with a bunch of different variations, such that there were large and small dates, copper and copper-plated zinc pennies—for a total of 7 variations coming from two mints.

In 1982 the mint changed the penny less copper more zinc. There are 1982 pennies with 95% copper. It was changed later part of 1982 to more zinc less copper.

1981 was the last year that all the pennies were made of .950% copper. In 1982 some pennies were made of copper but that year they changed the composition to .975% zinc with a copper plating. It’s difficult to tell which 1982 pennies that have .950% copper. I tell people if they want to save copper pennies to make sure they are dated 1981 on back.

Hello Rahim Bidkani, When did pennies stop being made with copper?

since 1992 UK pennies have been minted in copper-plated steel due to increasing copper prices.

History:

1707–1796 Sterling (92.5%) silver

1797 Copper

1798–1859 Copper

1860–1922 Bronze (95% Cu, 4% Sn, 1% Zn)

1925–1943, 1945–1954 Bronze (95.5% Cu, 3% Sn, 1.5% Zn)

1944, 1961–1970 Bronze (97% Cu, 0.5% Sn, 2.5% Zn)

1992 - today. Copper-plated steel.

Regards, James.

Never.

They are still made with copper, although now mostly Zinc. Now the copper content is still 2.5% by weight.

It was never 100% copper, at one time it was as high as 95% copper.

OK, Kurt is right, at one time it was 100% copper. Here’s the history of composition from Wikipedia Penny (United States coin) - Wikipedia [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_(United_States_coin)#History_of_composition ]

“When did pennies stop being made with copper?”

Assuming that you are asking about coins from the United States, the only correct answer is “1943”. Use of copper resumed the following year.

In 1982, the Mint changed pennies from being a copper alloy to a copper-plated zinc coin.

I assume by “penny” you mean the US 1-Cent coin.

I don’t know exactly why the US government stopped making them from copper, but the usual reason is that the scrap value of the metal has exceeded the face value of the coin.

In the UK, pennies and half pennies were originally solid copper. Since 1860 the 'Copper' coins were made from a harder-wearing bronze alloy of copper (97%), tin and zinc. However, since September 1992 they have been made from copper-plated steel.