✅ SOLVED Composition of a 1944 Wheat Cent

[Bubba65]

Hi ALL,

I dug this wheatie this past Sunday. It was about 4 inches in the ground and when I looked at it in the field it looked a bit strange to me. Well I did do the magnet test when I got home and it is not a steel cent. The thing that is confusing to me is the appearance of it and I weighed and it came in at 2.8 grams. So if anyone has any ideas of the composition of this cent would be great to hear. Thanks for looking and helping if you can.

Bubba65

 

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[bigfoot1]

1944-1946 were 95% copper and 5% zinc...othe other years except for 1943(steel)also had tin(bronze).your 1944 was reffered to as brass.should weigh 3.11 g

 

[OldNBroken]

It's a regular copper wheat penny. They minted about 2 billion of them so one of the more prevalent ones you will find.

 

[Bubba65]

I forgot to include it is not copper and it weighs 2.8 grams like I said in original post.

Bubba65

 

[bigfoot1]

I would get it looked at then.its possible I suppose that some got minted at the higher pressure settings required for the steelies.interesting.

 

[Bubba65]

Yeah thanks for the info already given. I have been detecting for 27 years now and know a Wheatie when I see one. This one is just different, so I figured I would put it on here to see if anyone had an idea. I am not thinking i have anything rare, more just wondering what the heck is it made of.

Bubba65

 

[Erik in NJ]

If you look at the Red Book I believe there's a footnote for 1944 that those cents were made from spent bullet castings from the war effort, not sure about the other years. Hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[cw0909]

yep i think erik has it

Shell casing bronze Wheat Pennies (1944–1946)

• Composition: .950 Copper .05 Zinc
• Diameter: 19 mm
• Weight: 2.70 grams
• Edge: Plain

Facts about wheat pennies - Wheat Pennies

 

[Bubba65]

Thanks for all the info and help on this one, everyone be well.

Bubba65

 

[unclemac]

If you look at the Red Book I believe there's a footnote for 1944 that those cents were made from spent bullet castings from the war effort, not sure about the other years. Hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

yep...1944