What Are Pennies Made Of?

By GovMint :

Pennies, or U.S. cents, have undergone several changes in composition over the years. Since 1982, pennies have been made primarily of zinc, composed of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper plating. Before this change, pennies were made of 95% copper and 5% zinc, a composition used from 1962 to 1982. The shift to a predominantly zinc composition was driven by the rising cost of copper, making it more economical to produce pennies with a zinc core.

Sources Used:

https://www.flinnsci.com/api/library/Download/e8b574cfe646499fa3c61f8b9ee37643 

https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coins-and-medals/circulating-coins/coin-specifications