I know that in US currency they don't put copper in the penny anymore. someone asked me if I knew when they stopped, and after I told them I wasn't sure, I was curious as to the answer myself.
To answer your question, 1943. It was in an effort to save copper for the military (World War II...). HOWEVER after 1943, copper was put back into pennies. Pennies made today DO contain copper, but in very little amounts. Pennies minted before 1982 were 95% copper and 5% zinc. Those minted after 1982 (meaning today's) are 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper. The value of copper has risen in the past few years. With the economy as bad as it is now, people are willing to do anything to scrap up a few bucks. This includes melting pennies and other things made of copper (copper wires, for example) and selling the copper from these products. It's an easier way to make money. That's why they made it illegal for you to deface/melt U.S. currency. So you can't melt and sell the metal they use to make the coins. Government obviously wants you to work hard for money or to be *** broke.
kind of depends on what country you are asking about, this is an international forum. I am in Thailand. Try googling your country's mint. I googled 'Royal Thai mint' and got it first hit... second hit was a cooking recipe for pork.
too expensive, cost more than a penny to make a penny
