I have very little knowledge of coins, but I recently came across a US penny from 1944... apparently one of the 'shellcase cents' that were made in that year and the year following. This penny, however, has no edge on it and seems unusually thin. Unfortunately it is in poor condition, and the photos of it aren't terribly good either. Does anyone know anything about this coin?
I too have one of these coins, however the color is silver, it is not clear from your picture if the color of your penny is copper or silver. The date on the coin is 1945 and I was told that the penny is called a "wheat penny"
this one seems to be copper... I read that in 1944 and '45 pennies in the states were made of salvaged shellcasings. Since you have one, do you have any idea why they don't have edges on them?
Yes they are called Wheat Cents...they were minted from 1909-1958. Cents have many "rims"...some are thick some are thin...some are like we all think of one...its not a fake...its not a rare coin... I think ya'll are thinking of Steel cents when you say Shellcasing...they were minted in 1943... If I'm wrong I'm sure someone can help me out!! Speedy
It's possible that it is a mint error, the coin MAY have been srtuck either without a collar or it may never have had the edge rolled. Both errors command a small premium, but unfortunately the damage (scratches) on that coin make it not so valuable. Neat coin though!
Speedy, After the total debacle that the steel cents were the mint reverted to copper in 1944 (you knew this much already), but the original problem remained since copper was still vitally important to the war effort; so instead of using mined copper like before the war, the mint began to use spent (and recycled) shell casings (made primarily of copper) as the metal that cent planchets were made from. This pratice continued through 1946 and is responsible for the coins from those years being slightly "off" in color. The original composition was resumed in 1947.
CaveTroll---thanks for the help...I had heard the term before but never had looked into it...I should research cents better Speedy
I went anf got my Lincoln Cent Encylopedia and it says... on page 77...the book is by Anderson 30% shellcasing (zinc) were inteneded to be used for actual coinage but at the last min enough copper became availble to make brass cents rather bronze cents...and it is thought that none of the cents were really made with shellcasing. That was not word for word and there was more...I just didn't have time to type it. Speedy
This is what I understood as well. I heard that shell casings were not actually used, but that the alloy was similar to shell casing brass.
This post made me curious so I went looking to see what I could find on the subject as I've always heard that shell casings were used in '44, '45 & '46. First place I looked was the Red Book - it says that shell casings were used. Weight was the same as normal, composition was lacking the usual small percentage of tin but was normal in regard to copper. The only difference was that the copper was recovered from melted chell casings which resulted in a slightly different color for Unc examples of the coins. Then I found an article in the Feb. 2003 Numismatist which says that melted shell casings were used. I also found a reference in an article published by the American Numismatic Society in 2000 where it lists information taken from the US Mint's Annual Report of 1944 that corroborates that the copper was obtained from melted shell casings. So - Speedy, how about checking a little closer on exactly what Mr. Anderson has to say in his book. And if anybody has a copy of Breen - how about checking that too. Because now - I'm really curious
Alright... Breen says... Sorry for any spelling mess up's....I'll get Andersons in a few mins... Speedy
There it is: In 1943 the mints used the steel for the Lincoln Cent, and in 1944-45 the Brass shellcasings from the war were used to make cents in light of there being a shortage of copper. Hope that makes more "cents" to you all! ~AJ
Speedy - Unless I missed something, I don't see where Anderson comments one way or the other about shell casing cents. Did I miss something ?
Guess I'm going blind, as I didn't fine anything like this in Speedy's last post. So your not the only one who couldn't find the info.
Sorry...he had 2 pages of it and I only got one...here is the other.. Again...sorry for my spelling...I'm typing this fast... Speedy
Thanks for the effort Speedy It doesn't really sound as if Mr. Anderson is too sure about exactly what did happen. But so far all other references disagree with him. I guess further research is in order.
I agree that it doesn't seem like many agree with him...I too will look into this more...like I need something else to do!!...but this will be fun...if I find anything I'll try to post it here. Speedy
