...A Penny Earned Trivia Quiz

Answer: German

The word "penny" is derived from the the German word "pfennig." The denarius was a silver coin, a bit larger than a dime, that was used in the Roman Empire for almost 500 years. This is the coin called a "penny" in the Bible. Before Britain changed to decimal coinage, the abbreviation for pennies, or pence, was "d."

Answer: 1856

The first pennies - now known as "large cents" - were nearly as big as a half dollar. In 1856 the mint decided to reduce the size of the penny to what we know today. The first "modern" pennies had an eagle in flight on the reverse, and are known as "Flying Eagle" cents.

These pennies were made from an alloy of 88% copper and 12% nickel, giving them a whitish appearance. In 1859, the Indian Head penny was introduced, and in 1860, the alloy to make pennies was changed from the nickel alloy to bronze.

Answer: Lincoln

Lincoln pennies were first minted in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. Old Abe has stuck around ever since. The first Lincoln pennies had two ears of wheat on the reverse, and are called "Wheaties" by collectors. In 1959, the reverse was changed to show the Lincoln Memorial.

In 2009, the mint issued four special reverse designs to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. In 2010, the reverse will be changed yet again, to a shield bearing the motto "E Pluribus Unum."

Answer: Copper was needed for World War II

Copper was in short supply and was needed for the war effort. In addition to the penny, the mint also changed the alloy used to make nickels during the war. But the steel pennies were very unpopular. When new, they could easily be mistaken for a dime. As they circulated, they rusted quickly. These steel pennies were produced for only one year.

A few 1942 planchets (blanks) were left in the hopper at the mint when penny production began in 1943, so there are a few bronze pennies dated 1943. These are very rare, and sell for thousands of dollars. But if you find one, don't get your hopes up. Most finds are actually steel pennies some practical joker has plated with copper. Test it with a magnet; if it sticks to the magnet, it's worthless.

Answer: Used shell casings

The shell casings were made of brass, not bronze, so they looked a little different from the pre-war pennies. The mint continued to produce these "Shell Case" pennies through 1946, and then went back to using bronze.

Answer: Zinc

By 1982, the price of copper had risen to the point where the penny contained more than a penny's worth of the metal. It was decided to begin making pennies out of a copper plated zinc core. The mint produced both bronze and zinc cents in 1982, but since 1983, all pennies contain 97.5% zinc, with a 2.5% coating of pure copper.

It's fairly easy to tell a zinc cent from a bronze cent, even without looking at the date. They sound different when dropped on a hard surface; in addition, the zinc cents are lighter. A roll of 50 zinc pennies weighs about 4.4 ounces; a roll of bronze pennies weighs 5.5 ounces.

Zinc pennies can cause serious problems if swallowed. They are especially dangerous to dogs. If your pet swallows a penny, you should take it to the vet immediately.

By the way, while pre-1982 pennies (and all nickels) contain metal worth more than their face value, it's illegal to melt them down or export them in large quantities.

Answer: True

Despite what some websites will tell you, pennies are "legal tender for all debts, public and private." Businesses don't have to accept pennies (or any other form of payment) if they find it inconvenient to do so, but the government must.

This wasn't always the case. But the "United States Coinage Act of 1965" established the lowly penny as legal tender.

Answer: 726th

Penny is the 726th most popular girl's name in the United States in 2009, according to babycenter.com. The name is a diminutive of the Greek name Penelope. Some famous Pennys include Penny Singleton (actress), Penny Marshall (actress and director), and Penny Pritzker (business executive).

Answer: Thoughts

Other phrases include "penny wise, pound foolish;" "pennies from Heaven;" and "spend a penny." The latter is a British euphemism for going to the toilet!

Answer: Benjamin Franklin

Although the phrase "a penny saved is a penny earned," is usually attributed to Franklin, he didn't originate it. In the 1737 edition of "Poor Richard's Almanack," he wrote: "A penny saved is twopence clear." But the sentiment predates him by almost 100 years.

It first appears in George Herbert's "Proverbs," published in 1640. It also appears in Edward Ravenscroft's play, "The Canterbury Guests," (1695). Herbert says "a penny saved is twice got," and Ravenscroft writes "a penny saved is a penny got."