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Penny for Your Thoughts? Trivia Quiz

If you can't decide whether to take this quiz or not, flip a coin! (Oh, and by the way - this is only about the U.S. penny.)

A multiple-choice quiz by emoPotato. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
emoPotato

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
344,779

Updated
Jul 01 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
596

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Directly before it was President Lincoln, who or what was on the head of a US penny? Hint

an Indian head

a ship

George Washington

a carrier pigeon

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Question 2 of 10

2. In 1943, what were US pennies made of? Hint

Steel

Bronze

Copper

Wood

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Question 3 of 10

3. When it's not in the context of prices, what does it mean to "spend a penny"? Hint

to throw up

to work hard

to urinate

to get your fair share

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Question 4 of 10

4. We all know the U.S. Mint makes pennies. Referring to coins, what is the proper word for "makes" in the above sentence? Hint

Shoots

Strikes

Prints

Flocks

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is especially unusual about the Lincoln penny? Hint

it was the first U.S. coin to feature a historical figure

it's the only U.S. coin to have a right-facing profile of the depicted president

all of these

it's the only U.S. coin to have the same person on the front AND back of the coin

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Question 6 of 10

6. What was significant about the year that the Lincoln penny was designed? Hint

it was the 100th anniversary of his birth

it was the 100th anniversary of his election

it was the 100th anniversary of his death

it was the 100th anniversary of his wedding

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Question 7 of 10

7. On the rim of the US penny, just underneath Lincoln's shoulder, are the letters "VDB". What do they stand for? Hint

Vanity Doesn't Benefit, to make up for Lincoln's less-than-gorgeous looks

Vaurice Donovan Bronson, one of Lincoln's assistants

Victor David Brenner, who designed the penny

Vero Dominatus Bellus, Latin for "may beautiful truth dominate"

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Question 8 of 10

8. The penny's color is actually quite misleading - approximately how much of a modern U.S. penny is really is made of copper? Hint

25%

.03%

19%

2.5%

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Question 9 of 10

9. How many pennies are in one roll (US)? Hint

100

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Question 10 of 10

10. Lying side by side, about how many US pennies make a mile? Hint

84,480 pennies

73,267 pennies

100,019 pennies

612,162 pennies

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Directly before it was President Lincoln, who or what was on the head of a US penny?

Answer: an Indian head

Indian head pennies were minted from 1859 to 1909. In 1909, Lincoln's face replaced the Indian head.

2. In 1943, what were US pennies made of?

Answer: Steel

In 1943, US pennies were made out of zinc-coated steel, instead of copper, because of a copper shortage during World War II. Uncirculated pennies from this time are typically worth more than circulated ones.

3. When it's not in the context of prices, what does it mean to "spend a penny"?

Answer: to urinate

"Spending a penny" came to mean urinating because of the former cost of using a public bathroom. The phrase likely originated in the UK.

4. We all know the U.S. Mint makes pennies. Referring to coins, what is the proper word for "makes" in the above sentence?

Answer: Strikes

The U.S. Mint has been known to strike about 30 million pennies every day, or 1,040 every second! The U.S. Mint was formed in 1792.

5. What is especially unusual about the Lincoln penny?

Answer: all of these

The Lincoln Memorial is on the back of the penny, with a very small figure of Lincoln inside it. The Lincoln Memorial was designed by architect Henry Bacon.

6. What was significant about the year that the Lincoln penny was designed?

Answer: it was the 100th anniversary of his birth

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809. His face was first printed on the penny in 1909.

7. On the rim of the US penny, just underneath Lincoln's shoulder, are the letters "VDB". What do they stand for?

Answer: Victor David Brenner, who designed the penny

America's public didn't want Brenner's initials on the penny, so the letters were printed on the rim, almost invisibly. Victor David Brenner died in 1924.

8. The penny's color is actually quite misleading - approximately how much of a modern U.S. penny is really is made of copper?

Answer: 2.5%

The other 97.5% is made of zinc. However, from 1793 to 1837, the penny was made from 100% copper.

9. How many pennies are in one roll (US)?

Answer: 50

There are 40 nickels in a roll, 50 dimes in a roll, and 40 quarters in a roll. A roll of pennies weighs a little over four ounces.

10. Lying side by side, about how many US pennies make a mile?

Answer: 84,480 pennies

Stacked on top of each other, it would take about 1,108,800 pennies to make a mile! That is a lot of one-cents!

Source: Author emoPotato

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
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