The first U.S. cents were 100 percent copper, while today’s pennies are 95 percent zinc with a copper coating measuring only 1/2000th of an inch.
The first U.S. cents were 100 percent copper, while today’s pennies are 95 percent zinc with a copper coating measuring only 1/2000th of an inch.
Bonus fact: Copper melts at a higher temperature than zinc. A Bunsen burner will melt zinc but not copper. You can hold a penny over a Bunsen burner and make a solid copper bag filled with liquid zinc.
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