When were the 1 cent coins made?

In the United States, one-cent coins, commonly known as pennies, have been in circulation since 1793, when the Coinage Act of 1792 established the nation's monetary system. The first one-cent coins, or "large pennies," were made of copper and featured a simple design with the word "liberty" on one side and the date on the other.

Throughout U.S. history, one-cent coins have undergone several changes in their composition and design. In 1857, the larger copper pennies were replaced with smaller copper-nickel pennies, which are the familiar pennies we know today. These coins featured the image of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse side and the words "One Cent" and "United States of America" on the reverse side.

Here are the significant dates related to the production of one-cent coins in the United States:

1793: First one-cent coins (large pennies) minted, made of copper.

1856: Production of the Flying Eagle cent begins, made of copper-nickel.

1857: Introduction of the Indian Head cent, also made of copper-nickel.

1909: Lincoln cent introduced, featuring the image of Abraham Lincoln, made of copper.

1943: Steel cents produced due to the scarcity of copper during World War II.

1944-1946: Bronze cents minted instead of steel.

1947-1982: Lincoln cents made of copper.

1983-Present: Lincoln cents composed of copper-plated zinc.

These dates represent major changes in the production and composition of one-cent coins in the United States. One-cent coins continue to be issued and remain a part of the country's currency today.