How did copper come to be chosen for making pennies?

mementoflash

It was inexpensive. Feb 25 06, 8:40 AM

wormwood_too

Pennies consist of a zinc slug or center with copper electroplated onto the surface. History: The penny was pure copper from 1793 to 1837, bronze from 1837 to 1857, and then copper again until 1943. In 1943, it was changed to its present make up (zinc w/ a copper plate) due to a copper shortage during World War 11. I assume that mementoflash is correct in why it was changed from bronze to copper in 1857. Feb 25 06, 11:18 AM

Baloo55th

Since 1992, pennies (and twopences) have been made of copper-plated steel. Before that, they were bronze. http://www.tclayton.demon.co.uk/decbr.html The pre-decimal pennies were bronze from 1860, and copper before that. Copper was discarded because it wears out too quickly, and bronze in turn discarded because plated steel became cheaper to produce. Now if you're talking about cents....... Feb 25 06, 3:05 PM

Baloo55th

Didn't answer the question, did I? In the early days of coin production, they were produced with handstamps. This meant that softish metals had to be used. Gold and silver are the obvious choices, as they are nice looking and practically useless - or were then, anyway - and not all that common. Copper was the choice for the lowest class of coins as it is relatively common. The change to bronze came after the machinery for producing coins in harder metals became available. Lead could have been used, but it is rather heavy and also rather too soft. Most other metals were either not available then, or more valued for their other applications. Feb 25 06, 3:09 PM