Copper into Gold?

In Chemistry the other day, we did a penny lab where we turned the penny into gold. Not real gold of course but It was still cool to watch the penny change from copper to silver to gold. We first soaked the penny in heated zinc, which coated the penny, so that when we took it out it was silver color. Then, we were able to place the penny into fire and after 10-20 seconds or so the penny turned the color gold. I thought this was very interesting because I've never done something like this before. Even though the penny was the color gold, I dont think I created real gold because real gold melts or bends in fire. However, if I kept the penny in long enough it would begin to crumble. Even though I didn't creat real gold, it was still facinating to watch and examine.