The easiest way to determine if a 1943 cent is made of steel, and not copper, is to use a magnet. If it sticks to the magnet, it is not copper. If it does not stick, the coin might be of copper and should be authenticated by an expert.
Does a silver penny stick to a magnet?
The counterfeit coins were originally introduced as a novelty item, but some have remained in circulation. The way to detect if your 1943 penny is made out of copper is by using a magnet. If the penny sticks to the magnet, it is made out of steel — not copper.
How can I tell if my 1944 wheat penny is steel?
It’s really easy to tell if you have a 1944 steel penny or 1944 copper cent: If your 1944 penny sticks to a magnet, it’s a steel cent and is rare. If your 1944 penny does NOT stick to a magnet, it’s made from copper and is common.
How can you tell if a 1943 Penny is copper or steel?
If it is a silvery gray color, it is probably a steel penny. If it looks more like a common brownish penny, it may be one of the rare copper 1943 pennies. Pass a magnet over the coin. If the penny is attracted to the magnet, it is a steel cent, not copper. Weigh the coin.
How can you tell if a penny is copper or bronze?
In 1943, due to war shortages, pennies were minted in steel. These are rather easy to pick out due to their color, though a magnet is usually much more definitive and quick. US pennies dated 1983 and later are copper-plated zinc. Pennies dated 1982 are either zinc or bronze (although most people call the bronze ones “copper”).
Why was the silver Lincoln Penny made out of steel?
If the penny has a silver color, it is made out of steel with a zinc coating to make it look nicer and protect it from rusting. They are fairly common in nice condition since people tended to save them when they were first issued because they were unusual.
Why is the inside of a silver penny rusting?
Moisture came in contact with the coins as they circulated in commerce. The moisture caused the zinc coating to turn to an ugly blackish color. As the zinc coating wore off the steel core the exposed steel underneath began to rust. The manufacturing process for producing the planchets was also flawed.
