Weight of 1943 One-Cent coins
RogerB
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Official US Mint documents assign two standard weights to 1943 zinc-coated steel cents. Pieces made in the early part of the year are specified as weighing 42.5 grains +/- 3.5 grains; those produced after about March 15 were to weigh 43.5 grains +/- 3.5 grains.
The reason for this change was not an actual adjustment to the blanks and planchets. Philadelphia Mint Superintended Driesell mentions the real reason in a cost estimate for Belgian 2-franc coins dated February 4, 1944. “Many of the [1943] blanks in the past weighed more than standard, some as high as 45 grains, which was within tolerance of plus or minus 3.5 grains.” He further notes in another document that zinc-coated steel cents averaged 43.5 grains. Thus, standard U.S. 1943 cent weight was likely increased to account for the bulk weight of planchets and the possibility of pieces weighing more than 46 grains.
Take away – Don’t get excited if a steel cent weighs more than 46 grains of less than 39 grains.
Comments
In other words: “Close enough for government work!”
Thanks for the research. Interesting. I will put some of my steelies on the scale.
Interesting! I love 1943 wheat cents. such a cool history behind them!
Also, don't get excited if a Belgian 2-fr of zinc-coated steel weighs more or less than 42.5 grains. It's all within normal variation and legal tolerance. (ALL of the Belgian coins were made from one large batch of left-over 1943 cent planchets.)
Wartime tinkering. No big deal. One year was enough experimentation before scrapping the Cents that looked like Dimes.
Pete
Weight range was likely due to various methods of coating steel with zinc, and difficulty in controlling thickness and density.
Interesting... I have a couple of rolls of OBW '43's.... I have opened one (really mint luster)... should check the weights... Cheers, RickO
In the engineering world, it's a classic case of, "If you can't meet the spec...change the spec."
In this case, there was really no reason for a weight requirement to begin with. It's not like it's a precious metal! So, change the spec so you meet it. No harm, no foul.
The law stipulated weight. One-cent coins were in common use for vending gumballs and similar trinkets, so they had to work in the machines.
As usual @RogerB
Thanks for the info
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Has anyone weighed several hundred of these as ricko implied -- or other cents of the era?
Weighing a simple BU roll without any container would be enlightening.