How can I tell if my 1944 steel penny is real?

How to tell if it's a steel penny?

Pass a sizeable magnet, preferably larger than a refrigerator magnet, over your penny. Did it pick the penny up? If it did not pick the penny up or attract it with a noticeable force, it is not a steel penny. If it picked the penny up, your penny is made from steel.

How many 1944 steel pennies are left?

Experts estimated the surviving population of the 1944 Steel Cent to be in the range of 25-30 pieces, or about double that of the known population of 1943 Bronze Cents.

Are all steel pennies magnetic?

The copper cents differ from their steel counterparts in four ways: Genuine 1943 copper cents will not be attracted to a magnet. Copper-plated steel cents will exhibit a strong magnetic attraction.

What is the rarest type of 1944 penny?

The rarest 1944 Wheat Penny is the steel version, which was minted by mistake and is extremely valuable.

How do you clean a steel penny without damaging the value?

How to Clean Collectible Coins

1. Soak the coin in distilled water for a few minutes to gently loosen debris.
2. If needed, use a very soft brush while the coin is still submerged to loosen the dirt. (Do not scrub.) ...
3. Place the coin on a clean, lint-free cloth and allow it to air dry.

What is special about a 1944 penny?

The 1944 Lincoln penny is particularly desirable in the eyes of collectors not only because of its design, but also due to its scarcity. Being that there are no more 1944 Lincolns being produced, the scarcity of these coins is constantly on the rise, thus making the coins more valuable.

How much is a 1943 or 1944 steel penny worth?

Each of the two 1944 pennies could be worth around $5 or more, depending on their condition. The 1943 steel penny with no mintmark is usually worth between $3 and $10. The 2 I have no mint brown in color and weighs 2.7 grams.

Are there fake steel pennies?

Warning: Copper-Plated 1943 Steel Cents

Unfortunately, counterfeit 1943 copper cents are common. Many ordinary 1943 steel cents have been copper-plated to resemble the rare copper errors. These copper-plated coins can fool the untrained eye but lack the characteristics of authentic 1943 copper cents.

What is the error l on a 1944 no mint mark?

That's a normal 1944 cent. L on the rim isn't an error. No mint mark means Philadelphia. The L is caused by a worn die.

What is the most valuable steel penny?

The most valuable 1943 steel pennies are those struck in error on bronze planchets left over from 1942. These extremely rare coins can sell for over $100,000 depending on their condition.

Why are 1999 pennies worth $4,500 today?

A 1999 penny can be worth as much as $4,500 today because of a rare minting error called a “wide AM” variety, where the “A” and “M” in “AMERICA” are spaced further apart than normal.

Should a 1944 wheat penny stick to a magnet?

The 1944 wheat penny is composed of 95% copper and 5% zinc. Neither of which would be attracted to a magnet. The lack of mint mark would indicate the penny was produced at the Philadelphia mint.

What are the errors for a 1944 steel penny?

Although 1944 pennies were supposed to be copper, a few were accidentally struck on leftover 1943 steel blanks. These rare steel pennies were a minting error and are now extremely valuable. Only a few have been found, making them worth tens of thousands of dollars today.

How many 1944 steel pennies have been found?

It is estimated that there are only 30 struck on the steel planchette from 1944 with only 12 known to be in collection.. so there is hope. Keep looking. 1943 was the year for steel Pennies. Copper was needed for the war effort.

Is a magnetic penny worth anything?

If a penny sticks to the magnet, check the date. A 1943 circulated penny that sticks is worth 10 cents or so. But a 1944 penny that sticks to the magnet should net you around $40,000. Much more if it's in really good condition.