In 1944, with copper shortages ended, the u. s. If you’ve ever wondered when pennies stopped being made purely from copper, you’re not alone!. That was the year that steel.

The iconic penny has been around for centuries, but its composition has changed over time. Webin 1943, the copper that had been traditionally used in pennies was removed for 1 year to reserve copper for the artillery needed during world war ii. Mint returned to making pennies from copper alloy.