1944 Steel Cent

Hello, I posted a while back and didn’t get any replies but just checking if anyone has any thoughts on the 1944 steel cent. I go to a lot of thrift shops, swap meats and estate sales to find collections. Found this at an estate sale. Thoughts?

 

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The second four doesn't look right. It looks too small to me. But, I'm certainly not an expert.

My guess would be it's a 1943 cent that someone has altered.

 

I think if its real I'm very jealous. Also curious what kind of meats you swap.

 

I'll swap you a kielbasa for a chourice.

 

I'm leery of the date, too.
Can you rotate your pics so we don't have to twist our necks to see them?
Like this:

 

I think it is a 1943 modified to a 1944 and then replated. I would like to see a photo of the edge straight on side as a regular steel cent will show the middle steel layer differently color from obv/rev. When replated, it will be all zinc color. Your close up of date shows a disturbance around the last 2 digits, and I seem to see the tail of a 3 which remains.

 

Sorry I took the pic with a phone and a loupe. If it was replated why would it still be 2.7grams?

Here is a pic from Heritage auctions that shows a 44 steel that looks similar. The second 4 looks smaller.

https://coins.ha.com/itm/lincoln-ce...mbnail-052317&tab=ArchiveSearchResults-012417

 

Here's the OP 44 coin rotated and cropped it's a little strange to me so I'll let the experts chime in on this one.
Dave

 

The last four is too small. So, it's not real as to a true minted coin of the time. Sorry. Does a magnet attract it?

 

Plating only adds a very small amount of material to the coin and your scale doesn't have the precision to measure it.

In addition, the weight of zinc plating may fall within the normal tolerances of the steel cent planchets (whatever it may be).

 

Ok. Yes I rotated my pics also.

 

Yes it is magnetized can be pick up from ant type of magnet.

 

Then it's probable a 1943

 

I just did a magnet test on the coin and uploaded a video.

 

I just posted a video of the magnet test. It does also have a pretty good pull too when the magnets starts to pull it up, my arm can feel the pull toward it.

 

Its definitely not a 1944 plated cause its magnetic.

I think what I was getting to is that if it where a 1944 plated coin it would be 3.11grams as compared to a steel cent that weighed 2.7grams

 

the date appears to be altered

 

Adding digits and mintmarks was a common way to make counterfeits years ago. The MM or digit was skillfully removed from a coin and then soldered/glued back onto the host coin creating a rarity. This was a common way to counterfeit 1909S-VDB and 1916-D Mercury Dimes. However, high powered microscopes could spot these. Research showed that specific MM styles were used for certain time periods, so you just couldn’t remove an S from a common 1950s cent and add it to a 1909VDB. And since these rarities had low mintages, it could also be determined where the MM was placed on the dies, so you don’t see many new counterfeits made this way

It is not inconceivable for your coin to be a 1943 with an added 4. The 3 may have been carefully ground off and a 4 from a donor cent was soldered in place. If the cent was then replated, it would hide much of the evidence of grinding and soldering and since lots of dies were made for 1944 cents it would be impossible to a die match.

Two things you can do immediately:

1. Look at the edge to determine if it’s been replated. Original steel planchets were punched from plated sheets, so the steel is exposed on the edges. Since some of the surfaces already show environmental damage, you should expect to see corrosion along most/all of the edges.
2. Check for any surface scratches or other bumps around the second 4 under the highest magnification you can use.

Extraordinary rarities require extraordinary proof. You need to look at your coin as objectively as possible. Others will, especially a TPG that will ultimately have to authenticate it. The chances that you have a genuine 1944 Steel Cent is very slim, and if you can determine it’s a fake, you’ve saved yourself the $50-$100 in TPG fees.

Based on this thread, I don’t believe you’re going to be able to provide the proof that’s needed to confirm the authenticity. You have a lot of experienced collectors questioning the coin. But if you really want to know, send it to a TPG. You pay your money and take your chances but I think your chances are extremely slim. Just my opinion

 

Referring to replating the zinc. Based on the weight and magnetism, it appears to be an altered 1943 cent, not a plated 1944

 

The last 4 look different than the first 4. I say altered. Of course it is attracted to a magnet.........it’s a 1943 steelie.