Gary's Type Set
1C LINCOLN, STEEL (1943)
View Image Gallery >
Coin Details
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
CENTS - LINCOLN, WHEAT REVERSE |
| Item Description: |
1C 1943 S |
| Full Grade: |
PCGS MS 66 |
| Owner: |
coinsbygary |
Owner Comments:
Because of a shortage of copper, critical to fighting in World War II, we have this one-year type, zinc coated steel cent. The following year in 1944, the Lincoln Cent returned to its original composition except for the minuscule amount of tin used in pre-war cents. The Holy Bible in speaking of worldwide peace says, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares”. In a similar way, we may say, “They shall beat their expended cartridges into pennies”, because a portion of the bronze needed to mint Lincoln Cents in 1944 came from expended cartridges. This attractive MS-66, 1943-S Lincoln Cent has the lowest mintage of the three branch mints, though none of the 1943 steel cents are particularly scarce. However, there are examples of 1943 copper and 1944 steel cents, and both the aforementioned coins are exceedingly rare and valuable. Among Lincoln Cents, San Francisco minted coins typically have the lowest mintage figures of the three branch mints.