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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Clinker, post: 1008626, member: 6229&quot;]Every single U.S. coin ever struck by the U.S. Mint as a business strike (for general circulation) has some amount of copper in it, <b><i>except one</i></b>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>First of all, let me make one thing clear. I am referring to U.S. coins that have been struck by the U.S. Mint for general circulation, so that eliminates any bullion coins, such as the Silver Eagles, Gold Eagles and Platinum Eagles series.&nbsp; The other coins I am ruling out are pre-federal issues, such as colonial coins (although plenty of them had high amounts of copper).</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>According to Mint records during the U.S. Mint&#039;s issuing of business strike coinage since 1792, every coin (except one) had at least a little bit of copper in it. Even coins such as the Morgan and Peace Silver Dollars have a little bit of copper (90% silver, 10% copper.) The circulating gold coins of the past have some copper, too (ranging from 8.5% to 10%.) All Nickels have a composition of 75% copper and 25% Nickel! Even pre-1965 Dimes, Quarters and Half Dollars contains 10% Copper.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;What about the Cent, you ask?&nbsp; You know the Cent, of course, was mostly Copper until 1982 when it became a Copper and (mostly) zinc mixture &lt;b&gt;<i>except for one</i>&lt;b&gt;.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>THE 1943!&nbsp; That&#039;s right! Owing to a shortage of Copper during the critical World War II year of 1943, the Treasury Department resorted to the use of Zinc-coated Steel for the Cent. Following photos courtesy of Coin Page (worldcoingallery.com):</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-895.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-895.html" rel="nofollow">1943 Cent</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-5194.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-5194.html" rel="nofollow">1943-D Cent</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-2236.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-2236.html" rel="nofollow">1943-S Cent</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Hope you enjoyed this <b><i>trivia</i></b>...</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Clinker[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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