1944 Lincoln Cent Error

[louiswelrod]

I found this cent in my change in about 1964 and have kept it ever since. The silver-colored chip is non-magnetic and has a finish that looks similar to a 1943 steel penny. I have thought that the chip might be a sliver of zinc left over from the 1943 minting or maybe a bit of silver, but I don't know enough about the minting process to really judge. Would someone know the error type and what the metal might be? Is it likely to have much value? I am planning to have it authenticated and graded, but I would like to know more before that. Thanks.

[louiswelrod]

I am sorry. This is my first post and I did not see the posting guidelines until after posting it. I hope the coin in the holder is sufficient, but I will repost if I must.

[mhonzell]

Hard to tell behind the plastic. It does appear metallic and joined with the coin. This could be a strike-through where the material was retained. Or, it may have occurred somewhere in the last 78 years of circulation.

Grading companies will only authenticate that this is a 1944 Lincoln Wheat Cent. If you can tell them what the defect is, they MAY agree and add it to the label. Otherwise, it will not be mentioned, or it may give the coin a Details grade as they consider it to be damaged. The coin is very circulated as evidenced by the wear on Lincoln's hair, ear, cheeks and on the reverse by the diminished details in the wheat stalks. This will not grade very high... maybe VG->F. So, in the end, you would spend a couple hundred dollars to get it authenticated and graded for a coin that might only be worth a few cents.

[louiswelrod]

Thanks for the reply. I mentioned that I have had it in my possession since about 1964, so there has not been 78 years of circulation. Here are some pictures I happened to have not in plastic. I am not sure how this could happen in circulation and preserve the rim.

[SensibleSal66]

Hello! Did you weigh it? Do the magnet test?
Looks like a Normal cent with the Zinc layer exposed. JMO.

[mhonzell]

Looks like a Normal cent with the Zinc layer exposed. JMO.

Sal, there was no zinc layer in 1944.

[Paul]

Hello! Did you weigh it? Do the magnet test?
Looks like a Normal cent with the Zinc layer exposed. JMO.

83

[Paul]

Using your images here for attribution… This appears to be a foreign substance on the surface of the coin.

[mhonzell]

I mentioned that I have had it in my possession since about 1964, so there has not been 78 years of circulation.

Okay, so it had 20 years of circulation before it was put away.

As I said, it could be a retained strike through, but more likely it is something like tin foil that was adhered to the coin by a contaminate. The foil was pulled away, and this piece tore off and stuck to the coin. The later photos kind of show it being on the surface. So, as Paul likes to say... we'd need to see this in hand to tell you what it really is.

[Marvic]

It looks like someone did a pennie repair job with solder heated onto this cent (silver or lead)...

[Earle42]

I agree - simply looks like solder or lead.

I am planning to have it authenticated and graded, but I would like to know more before that.

And you are smart for asking first. You would spent around 200.00 and gotten back a graded 1944 penny in sa slab with no mention of an error. And...they would not tell you why. They do not tell people why they do what they do!

See the PM I sent you concerning grading companies.

[louiswelrod]

In reply to the comments:
I have not weighed the coin, but the foreign metal is not magnetic. I agree with mhonzell that this is a coin that may need to be in-hand to get a good evaluation. I appreciate all the replies and I certainly am not sufficiently expert to rule any of the ideas out.

My own assessment, having looked at this coin for years, is that a metal chip was present in the die or broke off of something and was pressed into the coin. IMO the edges are too sharp for a chemical action and I am unaware of any chemical action that could give that appearance (I am a chemist). The shape of the coin is smooth and the rim is preserved over the chip as if it were pressed by the die. In addition, it may not show well, but in the close-up edge photo you can see that the copper of the rim is slightly depressed where the chip is pressed in as I might expect if a foreign metal chip were pressed into a planchet. Also, the edge photo shows that the foreign metal extends through about 3/4 the width of the coin. The color seems very similar to "steel" pennies that I have. Since the chip is not magnetic and "steel" pennies were zinc coated steel, I have thought the foreign metal is probably zinc, though nickel and silver may be possibilities.

Does this train of logic make sense? Do you think it is likely or possible? What would the accepted name for that error be? I appreciate any additional input.

FYI, I do not believe this coin is worth a lot of money, but I am sufficiently curious after having it for about 60 years to expend a little cash to get a good final answer about its origin. When I was 14, the store owner I worked for offered me $75 for it, which was a lot of money then. Probably should have accepted and invested it, but I have been happier owning it.

[mhonzell]

Zinc is very unlikely. It would not have survived this long... especially those first 20 years. Silver or nickel as a foreign substance in the mint are also very unlikely. Nickel is also magnetic. That's how I came to think it would have to be something very thin taking the shape of the coin and stuck in place, like foil or solder.

[SensibleSal66]

Zinc is very unlikely. It would not have survived this long... especially those first 20 years. Silver or nickel as a foreign substance in the mint are also very unlikely. Nickel is also magnetic. That's how I came to think it would have to be something very thin taking the shape of the coin and stuck in place, like foil or solder.

I agree with the solder theory now.