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Actually the cent was only US coin to be made of steel in 1943.
Copper was needed to make many different kinds of ammunition so a lot of industries needed to divert copper for the war effort, including the US Mint. At the time the cent was made of bronze, an alloy containing 95% copper along with a bit of tin and zinc, and its coinage consumed tons of copper every year. The Mint began experiments in 1942 to find a temporary replacement for bronze. They finally settled on the use of scrap steel plated with a thin layer of zinc to limit corrosion.
Unfortunately the new coins had a number of problems. When new, the zinc coating gave them a silvery color that caused confusion with dimes. After the coins had been in circulation for a while the zinc oxidized to a dull, dirty-looking gray. Worse, as the zinc wore off the underlying steel would begin to rust.
The different colors led to numerous myths about the coins. Some people erroneously believed they were made of silver. The gray color caused others to conclude the coins were made of lead, and some people refused to use them out of fear of lead poisoning.
By 1944 there was enough additional copper available that the Mint was able to resume the standard bronze composition. Much of that copper came from the jackets of used bullets and shells, leading 1944 and 1945 cents to be called shell-case cents.
A lot of steel cents were eventually removed from circulation by collectors or by scrap dealers. Even so, the huge numbers minted (over a billion coins) mean an average-quality "steelie" sells for less than a dollar.
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Was silver eliminated in coins during World War 2?
No, but copper and nickel was. This is why we have 1943 steel Lincoln cents and the SILVER War Nickels of 1942 to 1945.
If you have a 1943 copper penny who do you contact to find out about it?
Take it to a coin shop and there are books showing coins and their value.
Was there a copper penny during world war 2?
In 1941 and 1942 they were in 1943-45 they were made of steel
Why did they make silver colored pennies in 1943?
This was during WW2. Copper was needed to make ammunition for the war effort. The Mint struck cents out of steel coated with zinc to reduce corrosion, and the copper saved was diverted to the military. Unfortunately the zinc coating was unsatisfactory and the coins began to corrode. By 1944 enough copper from used shell casings was available to resume minting cents out of copper (bronze, actually).
What is the 1943 penny?
Do you mean a 1943 penny, since there were over a billion struck - ? Anyway, copper was a strategic material needed for ammunition casings. To free up copper for the war effort, in 1943 the Mint decided to strike cents out of zinc-plated steel. The coins quickly proved to be unsatisfactory for a number of reasons - they were easily confused with dimes, the zinc coating turned dull gray[*], and eventually the steel core began to rust. In 1944 enough copper scrap was available from used shell casings that copper coinage was resumed. As a result, 1944 and '45 cents are sometimes called "shell case cents". A few leftover copper blanks intended for 1942 cents somehow got mixed in with steel blanks intended for '43s, and were struck with that date. These famous "1943 coppers" sell for thousands of dollars today. Unfortunately, they are also often counterfeited so most of the suspected specimens that are now found turn out to be fakes. Similarly, a few steel blanks were struck in 1944 so there are "'44 steels" but these are less sought-after than the '43 coppers. [*]The gray color caused people who were unfamiliar with the coins' composition to erroneously refer to them as "lead" pennies.
1943 pure copper penny does anyone know what it's worth?
-In 1943, pennies were made out of steel instead of copper. A 1943 pure copper penny is a rare mint error, and is worth lots.
Are any US coins made of iron?
No, but the 1943 Lincoln cent was made of steel, as copper was needed for the war effort.
How many pennies were made of copper in 1943 before going to steel that year?
All of them were supposed to be made of steel, however there were a few copper coins accidentally struck that year. Its extremely rare to come across copper pennies from that year.
What is the value of a magnetic penny?
The only US cents that are attracted to a magnet were made in 1943. The coins were struck from steel instead of copper because copper was needed for making ammunition. 1943 steel cents are still fairly common among collectors. Circulated ones generally aren't worth more than 50 cents or so. There's more information at the Related Question.
When was steel put in coins?
During World War II, almost all copper production in the US went into making munitions. The US Mint used steel to make one-cent coins (pennies) in 1943.
How can you tell if your 1943 penny is copper or steel with zinc plating?
If the coin has not been re-plated, the difference should be obvious to look at. The zinc-coated coins will be grayish in color rather than coppery. However, a lot of people create fake 1943 copper coins by re-plating a steel cent with copper. If you remember back to elementary school science class, copper is not attracted to a magnet, but steel is. Use a small magnet to test your coin. AFAIK all genuine copper 1943 cents are accounted for and in collections somewhere, so if yours appears to be copper I'm willing to guess it will turn out to be plated, unfortunately.
Which coin has the least amount of copper in it?
If you are referring to present day coins issued for general circulation, that would be the penny. They are composed primarily of zinc with a copper plating over it.
What is a 1943 penny nickel mix with copper?
The 1943 Lincoln cent is zinc coated steel not nickel and copper.
Could your steel 1943 penny be plated on top and be original copper?
The original composition is steel not copper, many have been copper plated.
Was silver eliminated in coins during World War 2?
No, but copper and nickel was. This is why we have 1943 steel Lincoln cents and the SILVER War Nickels of 1942 to 1945.
Worth of a 1943 steel copper penny?
There isn't a "steel copper" penny. US cents were made of steel - but no copper - during 1943 to conserve copper for use in ammunition. Up till 1982 other dates of cents were made of a bronze alloy that was 95% copper, but no steel. A few 1943 cents were struck in bronze by accident but these are very rare and none have been found in many years.
What does a 1943 penny look like?
The 1943 US penny reflects the shortage of some metals due to production for the war. Instead of copper, the pennies were made of steel, and are grey in color.
