Steel pennies are pennies made in 1943 during World War II because copper was needed to make artillery. The Mint took the copper out of pennies and replaced it with zinc-coated steel. Steel cents were made for a year but many people didn't like them because it was easy to mistake them for a dime. 15% of the steel pennies were sent back by the public and then the 15% was destroyed!
Since they were only made in 1943 and are unusual they've disappeared from circulation, but over a billion were minted so they're still not rare - collectors and dealers have bins of them, usually selling for 25 cents to a dollar.
Also some of these pennies were accidentally made out of copper and are extremely rare. Many fakes have been made by copper-plating genuine steel cents, but you can tell if you have one of these fakes because they're the only US coin that is magnetic.
This coin (if you collect coins) is a very good addition to your collection because it has the most interesting back story! -CL
Steel pennies were only minted in 1943, however some examples of steel pennies being struck in error in 1944.
Steel pennies are worth 12 to 15 cents each and up to 65 cents if they weren't circulated. Steel pennies were made during WWII when cooper was needed to support the troops.
Yes, in 1943, some pennies were made of steel due to a shortage of copper during World War II. These steel pennies are rare and highly sought after by collectors.
Steelies. Short for "steel cents." Copper was needed for the war, so pennies were cast out of steel.
It's easy! Pennies were never made of silver. They would be worth way more than a cent. Steel pennies were made in 1943. So if you have a penny that was minted in 1943 it's not silver but rather steel.
The vast, vast, vast, majority of 1944 pennies are copper. If it sticks to a magnet it /might/ be steel, though you'd have to take it to an expert to make sure it wasn't altered from a steel 1943 penny.
1943
it all depends on what year it is
Yes
There were no 1910 steel pennies ever made. The pennies made in 1910 were made out of nearly pure copper.
The US never made silver pennies. In 1943 the US made steel pennies. These are often mistaken for silver pennies.
A 1942 penny is primarily made of copper. During 1942, due to the need for copper in World War II, some pennies were minted with steel coated in zinc instead of the usual bronze composition. These steel pennies are known as "1943 steel pennies."