1943 steel penny

The 3 penny set is sweet.

 

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Thank you and welcome to CT.

 

Shiney is bad...

The blanks were cut from sheets of zinc-plated steel. As a result on an original piece there is a tiny line of steel on the edge. The zinc also made them look grey and reacted with the environment in unappealing ways.

Replated (reprocessed) coins are dunked in a mild acid to remove the zinc and then plated. This covers the entire surface. So no steel line. Also plating with chrome or nickel makes them shiney.

 

I recently obtained two bags of wheaties to search through and ended up with almost four rolls of steelies, one of which are reprocessed. I have taken this opportunity to teach my YNs here at home how to recognize a reprocessed steel cent.

Here are a few photos to give you an idea of the difference. The "mirror-like" reflectivity on the reprocessed coin is evident and a dead giveaway to reprocessing.

If you ever buy bulk wheat cents and you get steel cents in it, beware of the reprocessed ones. Although some may find them to be "nice looking", they aren't really worth anything as they have altered surfaces.

The one you have is a nice example. Sometimes these cents can get really dark and black or with dark blotches all over them.