In 1856 the US Mint began removing the large cent and half cent from circulation in order to modernize the coinage with the introduction of the Flying Eagle small cent in 1856-8 and the Indian head small cent in 1859, and many of these contained some nickel in the early years. In 1982, the cost of making a US copper cent exceeded one cent. In order to prevent people from taking the coins to a metal dealer to make a profit, the US Mint changed the coins by making them of copper plated zinc disks these metals are currently (from 2007 on) worth more than one cent (The metal in US five cent coins is also worth more than 5 cents.), so the US government actually made it illegal to melt these coins. The only controversy is what to do about the US Mint losing money on their small denomination coins. I hope that helps.
In 1856 the US Mint began removing the large cent and half cent from circulation in order to modernize the coinage with the introduction of the Flying Eagle small cent in 1856-8 and the Indian head small cent in 1859, and many of these contained some nickel in the early years. In 1982, the cost of making a US copper cent exceeded one cent. In order to prevent people from taking the coins to a metal dealer to make a profit, the US Mint changed the coins by making them of copper plated zinc disks these metals are currently (from 2007 on) worth more than one cent (The metal in US five cent coins is also worth more than 5 cents.), so the US government actually made it illegal to melt these coins. The only controversy is what to do about the US Mint losing money on their small denomination coins. I hope that helps.