The 1943 Lincoln Steel Cent

Above, 1943 steel Lincoln pennies of World War II found in a strongbox. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in the 1960s, I started collecting coins with an album of Lincoln pennies. To date, it is about 99% completed. Back when I first started it, I was pleased to have obtained the World War II steel pennies. 

During the first full year of U.S. involvement in World War II, to conserve copper, the U.S. Mint made pennies out of steel for one year (1943). 

These pennies are relatively easy to find and are inexpensive.

A few months ago, when I had a strongbox opened, I found inside several 1943 steel Lincoln pennies among other coins (1964 Kennedy half dollars, Franklin half dollars and others). 

The American Numismatic Association has an article on the 1943 steel Lincoln pennies, calling them "The Most Compelling Collectible".

They begin it with:

There are a lot of fascinating things in numismatics. There are coins from ancient empires, and coins from every corner of the modern world. Coins have survived shipwrecks, or centuries buried underground. There are coins made of precious gold and silver, and from enough other metals to cover a big chunk of the periodic table. And there are coins that portray virtually every element of human endeavor, with countless images of history, nature, and culture.

But if you want just one, single item to convey the essence of numismatics, one coin with a story so captivating that it evokes all of the best elements of the hobby, the choice is easy. The most compelling numismatic collectible is the 1943 steel cent. 

To read more, go here.