The Compositions of Circulating United States Coinage

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Author: Bill O'Rourke

Here is a list of the compositions of regular issue United States Coins! This list does not take into consideration coins produced for special sets that were composed of Silver or Silver issue States Quarters. The compositions listed here would be for the coins intended to circulate in every day commerce.

1857 and earlier - Large Cents - 1.00 (100%) Copper
1856 - 1864 - Flying Eagle/Indian Head Cents - .880 Copper + .120 Nickel
1864 - 1909 Indian Head Cents - .950 Copper + .050 Tin + Zinc -- (Bronze cent)
1909 - 1942 Lincoln Cents - .950 Copper + .050 Tin + Zinc
1943 Lincoln Cent - Steel coated with Zinc
1944 - 1946 Lincoln Cents - .950 Copper + .050 Zinc
1947 - 1958 Lincoln Cents - .950 Copper + .050 Tin + Zinc
1959 - 1962 Lincoln Cents - .950 Copper + .050 Tin + Zinc
1962 - 1982 Lincoln Cents - .950 Copper + .050 Zinc
1982 - present Lincoln Cents - .975 Zinc + .025 Copper (99.2% Zinc, 0.8% Copper core coated by 100% Copper)

1864 - 1873 Two-Cent Pieces - .950 Copper + .050 Tin + Zinc

1851 - 1873 Silver Three-Cents - .750 Silver + .250 Copper - (Trime)
1865 - 1889 Nickel Three-Cents - .750 Copper + .250 Nickel

1866 - 1942 Five-Cent Pieces - .750 Copper + .250 Nickel
1942 - 1945 Silver WarTime Alloy - .560 Copper + .350 Silver + .090 Manganese
1946 to Present - Five-cent Pieces - .750 Copper + .250 Nickel

1794 - 1837 Half Dimes - .8924 Silver + .1076 Copper
1837 - 1873 Half Dimes - .900 Silver + .100 Copper

1794 - 1837 Ten-Cents - .8924 Silver + .1076 Copper
1837 - 1964 Ten Cents - .900 Silver + .100 Copper
1965 to present - .9167 Copper + .0833 Nickel

1875 - 1878 Twenty Cents - .900 Silver + .100 Copper

1796 - 1807 Quarter Dollar - .8924 Silver + .1076 Copper
1815 - 1838 Quarter Dollar - .8924 Silver + .1076 Copper
1838 - 1964 Quarter Dollar - .900 Silver + .100 Copper
1965 to present - Quarter Dollar - .9167 Copper + .0833 Nickel

1796 - 1836 Half Dollars - .8924 Silver + .1076 Copper
1836 - 1964 Half Dollars - .900 Silver + .100 Copper
1965 - 1970 Half Dollars - .400 Silver + .600 Copper - ( 40% silver )
1971 to present - Half Dollars - .9167 Copper + .0833 Nickel

1794 - 1804 Dollars - .8924 Silver + .1076 Copper
1840 - 1935 Dollars - .900 Silver + .100 Copper
1971 - 1999 Dollars - .9167 Copper + .0833 Nickel
2000 to present - Dollars - .770 Copper + .120 Zinc + .070 Manganese ( Golden Dollars )

NOTE : Gold coins and bullion issues will be addressed in another article.