Lincoln cent

Bronze cents dated 1982 and earlier Before 1982 the cent was a copper alloy; from that year it became zinc with a thin copper skin. A cheap kitchen scale settles which is which: the older cents weigh about 3.11 grams and the zinc ones about 2.5. Apart from the 1943 steel year, every date before 1982 is the heavier copper type, while 1982 itself was struck in both, so that year is the one worth weighing. Many collectors set the copper ones aside simply because they will never be made again, and now that no cents are struck for circulation the whole denomination is heading the same way.