Penny Today

: Originally made of pure copper, the penny's metal content was altered to zinc with a copper plating in 1982 to reduce production costs. The Current Debate: Keep or Retire?

The U.S. penny has undergone significant design and material changes since its inception: : Originally made of pure copper, the penny's

: Sorting and handling pennies wastes time for businesses and consumers at the point of sale. : Originally made of pure copper