1943 Steel cents - "Reprocessed" ???

So, if I carry them for six months? they look old ???

 

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Searched through the forums to find an answer to my Q and found this thread...

Anyway, would a replated / reprocessed steel penny exhibit a cameo appearance?

Or, are cameo devices characteristic of an original zinc plate coin?

EDIT: Here's my example below.

Do the flow lines, cameo, etc. make it consistent with and sufficient to determine that this particular steel penny has original zinc plating? Does the plating appear too thick compared to what it should normally be?

 

Well, first, there's nothing resembling "cameo" about this coin. My gut feeling, based on the consistency (which directly contradicts "cameo") and brightness of the finish across the whole coin, is that it's plated to almost 100% certainty.

 

Yeah, the colors a much more blue than my other steel cent.

And after looking at the plating, it appears way too thick, as IIRC, it should only be about 0.005" thick. The one I showed looks to be way too chunky to be consistent with that thickness.

 

I have been trying to find definitive info about replated steels for several years. I contacted the US Mint and was told they were considered a "novelty" coin and referred to the Secret Service for guidance on illegal counterfeits. Thanks to CoinTalk, I now know that all 27 coins I own are worth very little. But they are being sold for $1-3 at various sites, and are included in sets sold by Littleton Coins, I believe just to fill a hole for sold sets so they don't have to include a real steel.
I was gifted these coins, I'm not out any $$, but now I don't have to waste anymore time and effort! Anyone want to buy some replated steelies?

CoinTalk helped me bring closure, finally, to this issue. Great Site!

 

I'm curious as to the reasoning behind 'reprocessing'. It's not like these are/were worth any decent amount of money, so why bother?

 

I would guess it's because they can be sold in large quantities for a buck as a novelty @ 100x face value of the same rusty unprocessed cent. Not to mention the people selling these as MS coins for $5+.

I always get a little ticked off when I see dealers passing these off as original and calling that metallic shine "luster."

 

Here is the backside of the coin plating companies.

 

That's kind of worrisome! How many people bought "copper" 1943's from The Red Top co.'s customer at huge premiums?

 

I think the ali express trade has replaced them. They are now making them out of coin copper, no steel, and often no 'replica' indication
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/194..._expid=866e6d44-05d7-4658-81ba-4c0539d85b47-2

 

check this link out to see where these "Reprocessed " originate from. I just found a set from 20 years ago in a box, I think I will pop em out of the package, and fleebay em https://www.littletoncoin.com/shop/ProductDisplay?catalogId=25053&productId=37988&storeId=10001

 

If they are 20 years old, I would leave them in the packaging.
Of course as reprocessed, they are worthless. Be sure to mention
the replating in the description.

 

Now that wouldn't make it much fun now would it?

 

Can I get an opinion on this coin . It’s in very good shape . It is attracted by a magnet so it’s obviously steel . I suppose it’s replated but is there any scenario where it’s not ? Can there be a 1943 steel penny with a copper/bronze color that’s not been tampered with ?

 

It's possible, but that one looks plated, and there are thousands of copper-plated steel cents. At some point in the 1950s or 60s one company was advertising it as a service in one of the major coin magazines.

 

Numismatic ScrapBook magazine, 1963. Had to submit your personal coins to bypass possible counterfeit rules.

 

I guess that’s that ... Thx for crushing my hopes & dreams .. lol .. On another note I have a 1946 penny that’s smaller than others . It doesn’t fit in any slot in my book . I did start another thread on this but just curious what you thought .. Hard to tell in pics but if I place it against another penny it’s No doubt slightly smaller . Feels real , looks real & sounds real . Any opinions would be great

 

These coins were never as shiny as the reprocessed coins are in the first place. They have a frosty look with subdued luster. Here is a high grade 1943 steel cent with the original surfaces.