are all coins before 1983 copper?

[newmoneypicker]

I read about the 1943's but beside that are there any
other cents before 1983 that aren't copper?

[Maineman750]

Chuck gave you a Lincoln Cent breakdown by year on your other copper alloy thread....please take the time to read what we are trying to teach you. There is a lot of info available throughout this site.

To answer your question, yes..nickels ,dimes,quarters,etc were all made of something other than copper.

[admrose]

I read about the 1943's but beside that are there any
other cents before 1983 that aren't copper?

None have been 100% copper since 1857. With the exception of 1943 and 1983 and later all cents since the inception of the denomination have been majority copper. The only thing that's changed is the percentage of copper in the coin and the size of the coin itself.

[GrumpyEd]

I like hands on learning.
Take a modern cent 83 or newer and rub it on cement. You'll see the zinc inside it.
The zincs are zinc inside with a thin plating of copper outside. A little scrape and you'll see the bright zinc color inside.

Start looking at your 1982 cents, you can find all 7 types. That will help you learn about the different metals and the date sizes and it's fun and easy because you can find them all in change.

1982 types:

small date zinc plain
small date zinc D
large date zinc D
large date zinc plain
large date copper D
large date copper plain
small date copper plain (THERE IS NO SMALL DATE COPPER D)

[coppercoins]

before 1793 (colonials): copper.
1793-1857 (large cents): copper.
1857-1864 (small cents): Copper-nickel alloy.
1864-1942: French Bronze
1943: steel
1944-1947: shellcase bronze.
1948-1962: French Bronze.
1962-1982: Brass
1982-date: zinc plated in copper.

As complete as one can make it without going into specific molecular detail...which I can do

[newmoneypicker]

ok cause I was weighing all the pennies I went thru and I found a 1982 that
weighed 2.5 grams and the rest of the 1982's weighed 3.11 grams
is this normal?

[simonm]

ok cause I was weighing all the pennies I went thru and I found a 1982 that
weighed 2.5 grams and the rest of the 1982's weighed 3.11 grams
is this normal?

Yes, 1982 was a year in which they produced both copper and zinc cents.

[penny man]

Yes. 1982 cents can be either copper or zinc.

[newmoneypicker]

thanks to everyone for the information. this is a hobby that I actual enjoy
its something new around every corner.

[newmoneypicker]

ok so I have a 1968 cent that weighs 3.2 grams that would be brass then?

[coppy]

ok so I have a 1968 cent that weighs 3.2 grams that would be brass then?

Yes. But all brass & bronze cents we call them 'copper' for simplicity.

Brass = 95% copper, 5% zinc.
Bronze = 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc.

[admrose]

3.2g isn't significant. Unless the difference is +/- 10% it is within Mint tolorences.

[newmoneypicker]

thats what its reading 3.20 grams. what should it read?

[simonm]

The coin may actually weight 3.2g, but that is within the mint tolerance regarding the weight of the planchets.

[coppy]

thats what its reading 3.20 grams. what should it read?

Ideally 3.11 grams, but as other posters have said, it is within Mint tolerance.