History quiz

What is the different between penny in 1943 and penny?

The main difference between a 1943 penny and a modern penny is the composition. The 1943 penny is made of copper, while modern pennies are made of copper-plated zinc. This change in composition was made due to the need for copper during World War II. The United States government needed copper for the production of ammunition and other war materials, so they stopped producing copper pennies and switched to steel cents in 1943. After the war, the government decided to continue producing pennies with the copper-plated zinc composition because it was more cost-effective.

Here are some other notable differences between a 1943 penny and a modern penny:

* Design: The 1943 penny features the Lincoln Wheat Ear design, while modern pennies feature the Lincoln Memorial design.

* Weight: The 1943 penny weighs 3.1 grams, while modern pennies weigh 2.5 grams.

* Diameter: The 1943 penny is 19 millimeters in diameter, while modern pennies are 19.05 millimeters in diameter.

* Thickness: The 1943 penny is 1.52 millimeters thick, while modern pennies are 1.55 millimeters thick.

These are just some of the key differences between a 1943 penny and a modern penny.