Strange Lincoln Wheat

[Antny]

This has been in my posession, in an old cigar box since the 50's when I was a kid. It is a 1945 metal penny. I think I remember getting it in change and saving it.
It sticks to a magnet! Were there any steel errors minted in 1945? I couldn't find any info on the web. There is absolutly no copper showing through anyware on this penny.
Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Thanks,
Antnee

 

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[Jeffro]

There's a whole thread on a 1944s here- http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,39620.0.html

You may get some info from the sites mentioned in that thread, even though its not the same date.

If it is real, you have one heckuva find!

 

[Boobydoo]

This has been in my posession, in an old cigar box since the 50's when I was a kid. It is a 1945 metal penny. I think I remember getting it in change and saving it.
It sticks to a magnet! Were there any steel errors minted in 1945? I couldn't find any info on the web. There is absolutly no copper showing through anyware on this penny.
Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Thanks,
Antnee

You were one smart kid saving this one.
If it's real, you have a windfall! Good luck!!

Smiles!
BDoo

 

[packerbacker]

Wow, neat penny! Hope it's real and I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be. Of course, I'm the guy that got the lead quarter in my change a while back.

 

[jeff of pa]

It May be My Eyes or the angle you took the Picture.

top Back, E. Pluribus Unum Looks Distorted.

Like a Fake.

However, If it sticks to a Magnet it's definately steel, and if there is
any chance at all a 45 steel was Minted, It is Very much worth
getting it Confirmed.

Good luck !
Jeff

 

[kenb]

I noticed that as well, also Lincolns face looks a little puffy.

kenb

 

[Antny]

Thanks for all of the replies!
Thanks for the thread Jeffro...interesting. Like to know what happened.
Jeff & Kenb, I used extreme closeup with a Sony Mavica & angled it to reduce the glare that is why it looks distorted. If you guys think more pics would help, let me know.
Antny

 

[jeff of pa]

Actually Pics can only Say so much.

If The E Pluribus is straight like a Regular Wheat,
We'll take your word on it. At least I will

Your Next step, Since you already said you checked it with a Magnet,
would be to Send it in for Confirmation.

It may just be a Heavy plate of Steel, If that is Possable.
or Counterfiet. But only an Expert will be able to say for sure.

 

[Mackaydon]

Between 1944 and 1946 cartridge cases were salvaged and used for coinage. Some color differences have been noted in cents during those years. Your '45 should be composed of .950 copper and .050 zinc. and weight 3.11 grams.
Don....

 

[Oroblanco]

It is interesting that copper pennies were halted production in 1943 and replaced with zinc, and it seems everyone knows there were a handful of copper 1943s minted and went into circulation. Less well known are the 1944 zinc pennies, which were also struck by mistake when the copper pennies were put back into production - these are every bit as rare or perhaps even more so than the 1943 coppers. Is it possible that a steel blank got struck in 1945? I think it is well worth your trouble to take this coin to an expert, or even to send it to one of the coin certifying companies that will certify whether it is genuine or not and encase the coin in a plastic "slab" along with their grading of the coin. I have not had this done recently but last I knew this cost about $35 a coin, which is a lot if the coin is a fake so it is worth taking it to a coin dealer first and get his/her opinion. What a neat coin, if it proves to be genuine, may well be ONE of a kind and worth $$$$$!!! Now I AM jealous!
Oroblanco

 

[THing4CSA]

Re: Strange Lincoln Wheat Cent

Hi All My TH'ing Friends
I have to make the point that NEVER has the US minted any 'US Pennies'. I realize that the term 'Penny' has been used for the US Cent but please refrain from using the term as this is a site for educating others. The more misinformation that is spread the harder it is to correct.

I am glad that you kept the Wheat Cent but suggest that you have it certified to confirm what I believe it to be an error coin of huge potential. Good luck and I hope this will make you rich enough that you can become a world wide TH'er.
Keep finding those super items and best of luck with this 1945 Steel Wheat Cent.
Dave Mork
'Digger-Dave'
PS: Remember; Don't leave it in the ground!

 

[Gribnitz]

They made steel pennies during WWII. I have several of them. Copper was in short supply, so they minted them in steel.

 

[Blackjack77]

If it was put in a cigar box in the 50's- looks too have a lot of circulation wear or
the strike didn't have good detail.
Hope its real- $$$$$ but...
Just My two cents anyway
Still a neat find real or otherwise-- -congrats!!

 

[packerbacker]

I have to make the point that NEVER has the US minted any 'US Pennies'. I realize that the term 'Penny' has been used for the US Cent but please refrain from using the term as this is a site for educating others. The more misinformation that is spread the harder it is to correct



"A Wheat Cent For Your Thoughts" just doesn't sound right

 

[Antny]

Thanks for all the help & good advice. I will take it to a coin dealer in the next town & see what he thinks. I think I would have a hard time sending it off to a coin certification company. What keeps them honest?
I'll post what the coin guy says about it.
antny

 

[downindixie]

Yes,my sister used to wear cent loafers.

 

[romeo-1]

Re: Strange Lincoln Wheat Cent

Hi All My TH'ing Friends
I have to make the point that NEVER has the US minted any 'US Pennies'. I realize that the term 'Penny' has been used for the US Cent but please refrain from using the term as this is a site for educating others. The more misinformation that is spread the harder it is to correct.

ummm...what?

 

[Antny]

I went to a "wheat cent arcade" once at Coney Island, when I was a kid.

 

[Mackaydon]

You guys sound like a couple of 'cent' pinchers.
Don..

 

[Oroblanco]

Greetings,
Packerbacker wrote:

I have to make the point that NEVER has the US minted any 'US Pennies'.

This is correct, however the cent coin has been referred to as a "penny" by Americans since the very first cents were struck, perhaps due to our English heritage; the English used coins officially known as "penny" and "pence" (plural). You can read old texts and private letters from the 1700s and the US cent is almost always referred to as "penny" even though the official name has always been "cent" an abbreviation for century, or one hundredth of a dollar. My use of the term "penny" was not intended to mislead but simple habit out of common usage of the term. If you send in the coin to be certified, they will not be confused if you were to accidentally use the word "penny" instead of the more correct "cent" at least if they are any good at what they are doing!

(I mention that only because one certifying company started certifying ancient coins and was making some drastic errors in identification! I will not name the company here but if you are curious contact me off list.)
Oroblanco

"We must find a way, or we will make one" --Hannibal Barca