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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;desertgem, post: 2408102, member: 15199&quot;]&quot;NGC’s Coin Explorer says that “In 1943, with copper urgently needed for combat-related purposes, the Mint made Lincoln cents from zinc-coated steel. The substitute proved unsatisfactory, and from 1944 through 1946 the Mint instead used the brass alloy first tried in 1942; this lacked the small percentage of tin employed before and after the war. At least a portion of this brass was obtained from salvaged cartridge cases, which did the job nicely&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>I can&#039;t find the article I remember reading a long time ago, that it was mainly a symbolic gesture as the salvaging of &quot;brass&quot; from the large shells in a naval or artillery conflict environment was too dangerous&nbsp; ( some sailors were also swept overboard ) for a larger effort. I remember they eventually decided that unusable brass from small arms training was a good source and allowed the citizens having to do rationing and recycling to feel they were directly helping the war effort.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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