I have tried to find information on this coin to no avail. Is it real? Counterfeit? ETC? I can post pics but just want to know basic info. Help! Thanks, FB
As far as I know, there would be a chance for a 44' steel cent or two but not a 42' steel. the 43' coppers were from planchets left in the stamper after the 42' run, and presumably the same thing happened at the start of the 44' run.
I would say that anything is possible and although I know of no records on a 1942 Steel Cent, it is possible that one or more exists! Since the Mints would do testing of new planchets at the same time that a current Year's run was being produced, it is possible that they tested the feasibility of Steel planchets in 1942 and some got out by accident or in someone's pocket. If the coin is steel then it will stick to a magnet and if not, then it has been coated or plated. If the coin does stick to a magnet, have it weighed and if it weighs in at or very close to 2.70 grams, then you should investigate the coin even further. Have it checked by a Professional Coin Dealer in your area and if the Coin Dealer believes that the coin is genuine, then have it sent in to a Grading Service for authentication, grading and slabbing (placed in a Grading Service's holder). Although the turn around time (time it takes to get the coin back) may be kind of long, I would recommend having the coin sent to PCGS for authentication, grading and slabbing. Good luck! Frank
The government DID conduct tests on zinc plated steel in 1942 but the dies used were not the same as the production Lincolns but I do not believe the tests were actually conducted at the Mint. Most if not all the testing on alternate materials was conducted by outside contractors. If the decision to switch to the steel planchet was made early enough the mint might have created a supply of planchets during the end of 1942 so that they could start steel cent production as soon as possible after the turn of the year. in which case a steel planchet MIGHT have been able to get into the presses in 1942. More likely though the Mint just stockpiled the strip and did not begin punching the blanks until after the first of the year. (That would eliminate the possiblity of accidently creating a 42 steel and at the same time not delay cent production in 43.) Is your 42 cent strongly or weakly magnetic, or is it just silver colored? (The mint was producing coins for other countries at the time as well, so a foreign planchet is a possiblity.) Another possiblity is that is is a cent struck on a silver dime blank. The most likely answer though is that it is simply a plated genuine cent. The very first question that must be answered is, What does it weigh? Until we have a weight to start from all we can do is speculate.
Thanks guys. I will weigh the coin when I get home and post the numbers. I will also check the magnetic aspect of the coin. Fred B.
Well it weighs 3.14g and is not even a little magnetic. But id does look just like the others. So I guess it is not so special huh? Interesting experience for me. thanks for your help! Fred B
EDITED....I know that wasn't meant as a real offer-- but the rule still goes and someone might not know it was made in jest.....please no offers to buy/sell/trade.
I don't think that was ment the way it sounds but if you "knew" 100% sure that it was a fake...why didn't you post before? Fjblair--you still have a cooool cent to go with a 1943 Cent collection Speedy
Sorry about the tongue-in-cheek sale/trade offer, didn't intend to break the rules. It was a joke. FB
Thanks for the helpful comment. It was new to me and thanks to some of the others on the forum I was able to learn it was a "fake" as well. FB
