This was the best of the 11 or so steelies that popped out of a cent roll a few weeks back. I think it's been reprocessed (they all essentially looked this shiny), mainly do to the fact that there appears to be wear on key places (cheek, forehead, etc.), but maybe these are just weak strikes? I don't know if steel is softer or harder than bronze... I guess the other question is: If these aren't reprocessed, any suggestions on a grade? I'm going to say MS-60 or AU-58.
It looks reprocessed from the photos but it's hard to tell for sure.Here are some UNC's for you to look at for comparison.The mint luster you see is eliminated by reprocessing.Steel is actually much harder than copper or bronze and these coins don't show wear nearly as much as the copper ones.
It is reprocessed. reprocessed cents are circulated examples that are recoated . They cant' be MS 60, an uncirculated grade as they are tampered with. Most people don't offer a grade, as such on reprocessed cents as they are not in their original condition. I guess you can examine the details, and say something like XF-40 details but reprocessed. This one looks to be about VF 35 Bill
Yeah, after looking at those Unc. examples, there's just something unnatural about the sheen on this penny...
Anyone ever see them turn a bit blue? I have some that seem to be a light blue in places kind of like they are toning. Does this happen with these or have they been tampered with at some point?
Yes a true Unc Steel cent will quite often have a slight blueish tint to it. It is caused by a thin layer of zinc oxide which has a bluegray color when thin and whitiesh when thicker.
I don't think you can tell from those photos for sure but just a guess would be it just sast somewhere for a long time. I've got 26 rolls of these 43 cents and most look somewhat like that. They did have a nice luster back in 43. I was there and that was one of the reasons I started to collect them. Nice little shinny pennies I would say back then so my Dad went out and got me a lot of them. Bronz is a mixture of Copper and other metals but usually Zinc or Tin. Other metals are occatioinaly mixed in for different appearances and hardnesses. Stell is always harder that Bronz regardless of which type of steel you are referring to. Steel, like Bronz, is a mixture of metals, however, instead of the prime metal being Copper, with steel the prime metal is Iron.
