I have a 1943 wheat penny that is missing the 4 and 3. the only thing showing of the 4 is a very small spot where the top of the 4 should be. the reverse of the coin still has full detail, the obverse has the normal darkening/ corosion of a steel cent. the numbers don't apear to be worn off, just gone. Can anybody tell me if this is normal corosion or an error. I will try and get a good pic if I can.
I have little doubt that this is a filled die error. They commonly affect the date (principally the "4") on steel cents. I've always found this extreme and consistent localization to be quite inexplicable.
43 wheat I hope these pics help. I also wondered if the coin had any value, and if there was any way to clean the crud off the face without killing any value the coin may have?
The bust seems devoid of fine details. But the bust does not have the expected appearance of a filled die. I'm wondering if the coin is simply altered/damaged.
Can't say much for the coin but I do like the marble pattern under it. As for cleaning...I am sure that at one time or other even those that are saying don't clean have tried it at lease a time or two. The 1943 Lincolns is where I took a chance at cleaning. The attached photos of a 1943S is one of those I cleaned and it was done without scrubbing the coin. It looked about like the one you have posted before I cleaned it. I'm not recommending cleaning it, just telling on myself.
"The Works" toilet bowl cleaner. This stuff boils some, most or all of the corrosion off of the steel cents. It even removes rust. I placed coins in a plastic bowl, poured in enough to cover them, when the boiling stopped I rinsed off the coins with a lot of hot water and dried with a soft cloth. I believe that it is the hydrochloric acid in it that causes the boiling. This stuff is VERY DANGEROUS if all precautions are not taken as directed for it's use. Rubber gloves, goggles, lots of ventilation. Again, I must stress, after having done this I don't believe I would do it again and I DO NOT RECOMMEND that anyone else does this. I'm saying this because you asked but as most every one else is saying about cleaning coins even if they have done it in the past or are still doing it DON'T DON'T DON'T DON'T some method are dangerous and if there is any value to the coin you will have just cleaned it away.
LOL..or you could bite the bullet and buy them in BU not too pricey in this condition.And before anyone asks,NO they are not those "reprocessed" steel cents
2b1ask1 - OK - you got me goin now and I have to ask - the coin in the pic you posted, is the color in the pic accurate ?
Are you sure it contains hydrochloric acid?? I am not to sure about that..that is a very robust acid and would most likely pit the coins surface even in low concentrations. Check the ingredients label...it should have a MSDS warning if it contains that acid.... RickieB
I don't have that cleaner any longer and can't be sure of the active ingredient. The best I can recall that is what it was. The color of my photos are due to the lighting I have. They don't have that toning you see in the photos. Your right about the pitting. It's very hard to tell without a very close look but it is there.
OK - I'll put it this way - is the coin copper colored ( as in the pics ) or grey colored ? The reason I'm asking should be pretty obvious.
The color is grey. vipergts2, I appologize for the redirection my replies took your question about whether or not this is an error. With the corosive condition of your coin I believe the best answer/conclusion is the one given by mikediamond in this string.
1943 I did a little light cleaning with bowl cleaner, just enough to lift the scale off. The bust does have good detail left, and you can see a ghost of the 4 and the 3. Also there is the ghost of an s under the date. any new opinions on error or value... if any. Thanks for any help.
