Quick answer
Today’s US circulating coins are base metal. The cent is copper-plated zinc, the nickel is a copper-nickel alloy, and the dime, quarter and half dollar are copper-nickel clad over a copper core. Dollar coins are a manganese-brass clad. Silver (90%) was used in dimes, quarters and half dollars until 1964, and in a reduced 40% form for Kennedy half dollars from 1965 to 1970.
Current compositions at a glance
| Denomination | Current composition (approximate) | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Cent | 97.5% zinc core, plated with copper (2.5%) | 2.5 g |
| Nickel | 75% copper, 25% nickel | 5.0 g |
| Dime | Copper-nickel (75/25) outer layers over a pure copper core | 2.268 g |
| Quarter | Same clad construction | 5.670 g |
| Half dollar | Same clad construction | 11.340 g |
| Dollar (Sacagawea and presidential) | Manganese brass over a copper core | 8.1 g |
The U.S. Mint publishes the official specifications on its website, and those are the best source if you need exact figures for a specific year.
The cent
The Lincoln cent has changed metal several times.
- For most of the 20th century, until 1982, cents were about 95% copper (the remainder zinc, or tin and zinc in earlier years).
- In 1943 the cent was struck on zinc-coated steel to save copper for the war effort. Those steel cents are magnetic.
- In 1982 the Mint moved to the modern zinc core with a thin copper plating. Cents from 1982 can be either type, so they are often weighed to tell them apart.
The nickel
The five-cent piece has been 75% copper and 25% nickel since 1866. It is not made of pure nickel. From 1942 to 1945 the Jefferson nickel was changed to a wartime alloy that contained 35% silver, and those coins carry a large mint mark above the dome of Monticello on the reverse.
Dime, quarter and half dollar
Until 1964 these coins were 90% silver and 10% copper. After that, the Coinage Act of 1965 replaced silver with a clad sandwich of copper-nickel over copper. The edge of a clad coin shows a copper stripe, while silver coins show a solid silver-coloured edge.
The Kennedy half dollar was made at 40% silver from 1965 to 1970, and has been clad since 1971. Old silver coins are often sold as “junk silver” by weight, because they are worth more than face value for the metal.
Dollar coins
- Morgan and Peace dollars: 90% silver.
- Eisenhower dollars (1971 to 1978): copper-nickel clad for circulation, with some 40% silver versions made for collectors.
- Susan B. Anthony dollars (1979 to 1981, 1999): copper-nickel clad.
- Sacagawea and presidential dollars: a manganese-brass outer layer, around 88.5% copper, 6% zinc, 3.5% manganese and 2% nickel, over a pure copper core.
Gold and bullion coins
United States gold coins from 1837 to the early 1930s were 90% gold and 10% copper. Modern American Gold Eagles are 22 karat gold. For the details of what gold coins are made of, see our guide on what gold coins are made of.
Why compositions changed
The main driver has been the market price of metal. When the value of the metal in a coin approaches or exceeds face value, the coin risks being melted or hoarded. The half cent was ended in 1857 partly because of rising copper costs, silver was removed in the 1960s as silver prices climbed, and the cent changed in 1982 for similar reasons.
Using composition to spot oddities
Knowing the expected metal and weight helps with finding errors and fakes. A silver-coloured dime without a copper stripe on its edge suggests older silver, and a coin that is the wrong weight for its date deserves a closer look. A steel cent should stick to a magnet, while most other US circulating coins should not stick strongly. For more on magnets and gold, see are gold coins magnetic.
FAQ
Why is a ten-cent coin called a dime? The name comes from an old French word for “tenth”.
What building is on the back of the nickel? The Jefferson nickel usually shows Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s home in Virginia, though some years carried different reverse designs.
Are any US coins 100% nickel? Not in current US circulation. Nickel-coloured US coins are copper-nickel alloys.
What size is a half dollar? The Kennedy half dollar is about 30.6 mm across.