re: Non-copper cents??????

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3 total messages Started by LavettePH Wed, 05 Dec 1984 15:51

#72

Author: LavettePH
Date: Wed, 05 Dec 1984 15:51

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Posted: Sun Dec  2 00:09:48 1984

>       I have heard that the US Mint no longer makes 100% copper cents.
>       Two queries:

>	What was the last year 100% copper cents were minted?
>	Did all the Mints switch in the same year?
>
>	What is the present composition? Is it some kind of
>	sandwich like the formerly silver coins?

>       -len tower		UUCP:     {ihnp4,harpo}!inmet!tower


1.  The last 100% copper cent was struck in 1857.

2.  Yes.

3.  The current Lincoln cent series:

    1909-1942  Bronze alloy approximately 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc
    1943 only  Zinc plated steel
    1944-1946  Cartridge brass (done to get rid of WWII surplus cartridge cases)
    1947-1961  Bronze alloy approximately 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc
    1962-1982  Bronze alloy approximately 95% copper and 5% zinc
    1983-1984  Copper plated zinc (2.5% Cu)

4.  No, the planchets are blanked from a sheet of copper plated zinc and the 
    copper is smeared around the circumference of the rim during the shearing.
    The clad coins are made from planchets that are blanked from sheets of mat-
    erial made by bonding the three layers under high pressure as the sheet is
    made.  No electro-plating is involved in this process.

I'm referring to general circulation coinage.  The variations of American one
cent pieces including proofs, errors and trial pieces fills an entire book.
Congratulations, by the way, for referring to the coin as a "cent".  Most people
refer to it as a "penny".  They forget that a penny is one-twelfth part of a
shilling.

- Phil

re: Non-copper cents??????

#73

Author: David Claus
Date: Wed, 05 Dec 1984 18:53

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I believe that both copper and copper plated zinc cents were
made in 1982.

What I find interesting is the fact that the mint switched over to zinc
because they were worried about copper prices, and now
copper prices are at there lowest point since the 30's in
inflation adjusted terms.

Dave Claus
AT&T-Consumer Products

Get rid of the cent and round everything to the nearest nickel.

re: Non-copper cents??????

#74

Author: Gordon A. Moffett
Date: Fri, 07 Dec 1984 07:47

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> Get rid of the cent and round everything to the nearest nickel.

Amdahl's cafeteria does this.  Saves a lot of time from
having people or cashiers sifting thru pennies.
-- 
Gordon A. Moffett		...!{ihnp4,hplabs,amd,sun}!amdahl!gam

37 22'50" N / 121 59'12" W	[ This is just me talking. ]

[ Note longitude correction; I am no longer in the Pacific Ocean ]

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