By Cindy Brake for COIN WORLD

Detecting zinc-coated steel planchet imposters requires magnet, good eye

Distinguishing the elusive 1943 Lincoln copper cent from an imposter requires a magnet and a good eye.

In 1943 the cent was struck on a zinc-coated steel planchet rather than the usual 95 percent copper planchet. The United States was involved in World War II and copper was needed for the war effort.

The 77th Congress authorized the wartime cent with Public Law 815. The metal content of the cent changed from 95 percent copper and 5 percent tin and zinc to a low grade carbon steel base with a .005-inch thick zinc coating that was deposited electrolytically as a rust preventative.

No one knows for sure how, but a few – some speculate about two dozen – copper planchets were mixed in with the zinc-coated steel planchets and were struck with 1943 dies. The authentic 1943 Lincoln copper cents are highly prized.

In the 1940s rumors began about a genuine 1943 Lincoln copper cent struck in error. The first pieces were authenticated by acknowledged experts in the late 1950s.

Read Full Coin World Article

Related posts:

1. Coin Rarities & Related Topics: 1943-D copper cent, 1795 Reeded Edge cent, 1811/0 cent, and half cent errors
2. Coin Rarities & Related Topics: 1943-D copper cent, 1795 Reeded Edge cent, 1811/0 cent, and half cent errors
3. Unique Bronze 1943-D Lincoln Cent Sold for $1.7 Million by Legend
4. 1943-S Lincoln Cent Struck in Bronze sold by Heritage for $207K
5. Previously Unaccounted 1943-S Bronze Cent Acquired by Rare Coin Wholesalers
6. World War 2 Penny Errors Star at ANA Convention, Part 1: 1943-S Copper trades on the bourse floor
7. United States Mint Launches First Redesigned Lincoln One-Cent Coin in 50 Years at Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace
8. World War 2 Penny Errors Star at ANA Convention, Part 2: $374k Record Price for a Lincoln Cent
9. Unique 1943 Bronze Cents Set To Be Displayed at the FUN Show
10. 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One-Cent Proof Coin Set Available August 26th