Anyone have an image of a steel cent in Good or worse condition?

ajaan

Wear wise only.

291fifth

It is unlikely that they would have worn down that much during the 25 years or so they actually circulated. (They were effectively gone from circulation by the late 1960's.) Having a steel core they would have resisted rapid wear. Rust, yes, but heavy wear, no. I don't recall ever seeing one that would have graded less than Fine by wear and most were VF or XF by wear.

ajaan

@291fifth said:
It is unlikely that they would have worn down that much during the 25 years or so they actually circulated. (They were effectively gone from circulation by the late 1960's.) Having a steel core they would have resisted rapid wear. Rust, yes, but heavy wear, no. I don't recall ever seeing one that would have graded less than Fine by wear and most were VF or XF by wear.

I see PCGS has graded one AG3

JasonGaming

The AG03, from a PCGS set registry. I wish it were mine

291fifth

@JasonGaming said:

AG03, from a PCGS set registry. I wish it were mine

I suspect it may have been a pocket piece. The lack of any rust on a steel cent with that level of wear is the tip off.

CaptHenway

@291fifth said:

@JasonGaming said:

AG03, from a PCGS set registry. I wish it were mine

I suspect it may have been a pocket piece. The lack of any rust on a steel cent with that level of wear is the tip off.

I wonder if it had help. I have never seen a bronze Lincoln wear in that pattern.

291fifth

@CaptHenway said:

@291fifth said:

@JasonGaming said:

AG03, from a PCGS set registry. I wish it were mine

I suspect it may have been a pocket piece. The lack of any rust on a steel cent with that level of wear is the tip off.

I wonder if it had help. I have never seen a bronze Lincoln wear in that pattern.

A definite possibility.

1630Boston

Great question by the OP and great theories/responses.

BillJones

I doubt that you will see one with honest wear. The steel was too hard, the coins didn't circulate for long enough and the rust got to them before circulation did.

cladking

I saw a few low end VF's before they quit circulating. Most had some rust, were black, and/or were mid range XF. It wasn't at all unusual to see fairly nice AU's once in a while. Most of the AU's were probably spotty but I didn't notice such things in those days.

topstuf

@291fifth said:
It is unlikely that they would have worn down that much during the 25 years or so they actually circulated. (They were effectively gone from circulation by the late 1960's.) Having a steel core they would have resisted rapid wear. Rust, yes, but heavy wear, no. I don't recall ever seeing one that would have graded less than Fine by wear and most were VF or XF by wear.

Everyone called them "silver" pennies.

carabonnair

@topstuf said:
Everyone called them "silver" pennies.

I heard "lead" pennies a few times, I think.

ricko

I have a couple rolls of MS '43's.... but none that are 'worn'....Cheers, RickO