1940 - 1958 Copper Wheatback A unique set, The Last of the Wheatback Copper Cents.  The U. S. Mint switched to a copper plated zinc alloy in 1982, forever eliminating the "pure"copper cent. This set begins at 1940 with the wheatback cents, 1940  -  55PDS, including the 1943 "steel" cents; 1956 - 1958 P & D.  54 coins in Plastic Tube Super Roll.