Zinc Coated Steel Cents 1943

Examine the overall color of the 1943 penny.

Zinc coated steel cents 1943.

This unusual looking lincoln wheat cent is unlike any other united states one cent coin. Usa 1943 s 1 cent zinc coated steel coin lincoln cent wheat ears reverse. If it is a silvery gray color it is probably a steel penny. The us needed to allocate as much copper as possible for the war effort and this included copper used for minting lincoln cents at the us mint.

Eventually the mint settled on steel coated with 00025 inches of zinc to prevent the steel from rusting and without tin for the new material to make pennies. Make offer usa 1943 s 1 cent zinc coated steel coin lincoln cent wheat ears reverse. Zinc coated steel was used as the substitute metal composition and hence the new silver like coin is known as the wartime steel cent or steel penny. During world war ii the war effort required a lot of copper to make shell casings and munitions.

If it was in circulation long enough the zinc coating completely wore off and the steel underneath would start to show through. Nearly all circulating pennies at that time were struck in zinc coated steel because copper and nickel were needed for the allied war effort. If it looks more like a common brownish penny it may be one of the rare copper 1943 pennies. 1943 steel cents are u s.

Its zinc coated steel composition makes this coin resemble a dime more than a typical u s. Rare 1943 lincoln wheat penny zinc steel coin philadelphia mint collectible. One cent coins that were struck in steel due to wartime shortages of copper. A regular 1943 steel penny is worth only a few cents.

According to the american numismatic association the 1943 copper alloy cent is one of the most idealized and potentially one of the most sought after items in american numismatics. The philadelphia denver and san francisco mints each produced these 1943 lincoln cents the unique composition of the coin low grade steel coated with zinc instead of the previously 95 copper based bronze composition has led to various nicknames such as wartime cent steel war penny. When exposed to moisture the penny would start to rust. As the 1943 steel pennies circulated the zinc coating started to turn dark gray and almost black.

During world war 2. This applies within and even beyond the numismatic realm. In 1943 the penny was made out of zinc plated steel to save copper for the war effort which is why most 1943 pennies are silver colored. The 1943 silver colored penny is a wartime coin issue made of steel and coated with zinc.