When did the Mint Change the Composition of the Penny?
Background: Sometime between 1976 and 1990 the United States mint made a
dramatic change in the composition of the common penny. The mint almost entirely
change the pennies composition from one metal to another. This change was
disguised by coating the new penny with the old metal.
Objective: You must identify the year that the change took place and to determine
which metal is associated with both the old and new pennies. You will solve this
problem using nondestructive methods.
Procedure:
1. Your observations are the most important aspect of this lab. Remember to be as
descriptive as possible and highly organized. Record all observations in the given
table.
2. Find two different pennies for each year from 1976 to 1990.
