What was the last year that pennies were made entirely of copper?
1982 was the last year for copper pennies. And the first year for the zinc pennies. They made both types that year, and the only way to tell them apart is by weight — the zinc pennies are lighter. Answer 100% copper pennies were last minted by the US in 1857. These were large cents, about the size of the “golden” dollar coins. The Flying Eagle and Indian Cents from 1856 to 1864 were 88% copper and 12% nickel. Beginning in 1864 Indian Cents, and later Lincoln Cents, were minted in 95% copper and 5% tin, technically this is bronze.
