Anyone every hear of a 1948 Philly steel Lincoln cent? I was looking over a Lincoln wheat cent lot I bought in an auction and came across the attached oddity. The coin is magnetic, I tested it with a magnet and it looks like its in mint condition. Nearly flawless on both sides. I have my suspicions it is real because I never heard of such a coin before. I understand there were two franc French coins made in the Philly mint in 1944, could it be one of those blanks got mixed in with the 1948 copper blanks? Thanks for looking. Jay
Look at the 8. You can see someone took a 1943 and maybe soldered it or put some metal there. Probably to make it look like a rare off-metal error. Interesting find. I always love finding coins with interesting counterfeit stories. -SC
The only 2 Francs that I see were minted for 1944 were made of Aluminum and Aluminum-bronze which none are magnetic. So the answer is no. We have seen many post 1943 Cents that have been plated.
I believe he was thinking of the 1944 Belgium francs. We had so many remaining planchets we struck coinage for them. -SC
Oh I see... the Numista comment even mentions it. But I don't think that a Steel planchet was laying around 4 years later.
Definitely not. But then again 1989 1C have been found struck in bronze. Did you see my explanation above? The date, it was tampered with. -SC
It's easier to plate these Cents. I don't know about tampering because the 3 on the 1943 is shaped differently than the 8.
The question is how magnetic? Strongly? Weakly? Hardly? Its important to know this to see if it is solid steel or maybe just trace magnetism from plating.
Good question. I have read on other threads on plated Cents, that there is a slight attraction to a magnet.
I love seeing people answer their own questions. Like watching them learn right in front of you. Way to go @SorenCoins
Yes. Zinc can show Eddy's currents, and if plated in steel it would show small amounts of ferromagnetism.
