-40%
Rare Old 1941 1942 1943 1944 WWII US Steel Copper Penny Coin Vintage War Lot WW2
$ 0
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Description
Up for sale is a set of 4 World War II Era US Lincoln wheat cents from 1941, 1942, 1943 and 1944. (680)The 1941,1942 and 1944 coins are copper and the 1943 is made from World War II emergency issued Wartime steel.
The Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints each produced these 1943 Lincoln cents. The unique composition of the coin (low-grade steel coated with zinc, instead of the previously 95%-copper-based bronze composition) has led to various nicknames. Also known as a steel war penny or steelie, was a variety of the U.S. one-cent coin which was struck in steel due to wartime shortages of copper. Due to wartime needs of copper for use in ammunition and other military equipment during World War II, including windings for massive uranium gas separation magnets as part of the Manhattan Project, the United States Mint researched various ways to limit dependence and meet conservation goals on copper usage. After trying out several substitutes (ranging from other metals to plastics) to replace the then-standard bronze alloy, the one-cent coin was minted in zinc-coated steel.