what years where made from 100 percent copper ?
1981 and earlier ... 100% copper 1982 ... some are, some aren't 1983 ... copper plated zinc
From 1793–1857 they were 100% copper. From 1857–1864 they were 88% copper and 12% nickel. From 1864 to 1962 they were 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc with the exception of 1943 when they were made of zinc coated steel because of the war. From then they became mostly 95% copper, 5% zinc, (brass). In 1982 they changed it part way through the year so some are mostly copper and some are mostly zinc. The zinc ones are about 97.5% zinc with a copper coating.
