Penny

See a penny, pick it up,
The fates decide your type of luck.
Take the prize or take a fall
Check the year, then make the call.

1800's percentages high, through 1981;
Lucky, for healing pain and love begun.
Not '43 though, only zinc and steel,
'Twas the War, all copper goes to a gun.

Post-'82, penny's time to cheat;
Copper bonded over zinc by some heat.
So take the prize or take a fall.
Check the year, then make your call.


12 lines (had to edit, forgot to put line count)