Newbie member and coin collector - question about 1944 steel cent
collectorof2much
Posts: 14 ✭
Hi 
For the last several months I have been reading through coin forums & decided CU is a good place to land.
I'll give a little backstory to the coin in question. I was given some items from my deceased relatives house, including a box with a collection of this, that and everything else in it. In there I found a penny that was hard to make out what it was. I set it in a mason jar & forgot about it for half a year. Something else I was given was part of a wheat penny collection. I discovered that there was such a thing as a 1943 steel cent, who knew? I then became very intersted in coin collecting, buying the Red Book, a usb microscope, a scale, and reading all about coins, especially error coins. A few months back I remembered about the coin I had set aside and decided to use my newfound knowledge to see if I could figure anything out. It was magnetic! But it weighed 2.43g, a little low for a steel cent. I then started taking pictures, LOTS of pictures, in all lights and all angles.
I have several pictures to share to see what you think. I can see a 4 and a 3 at the end of the date. I actually see numbers all over it, as you'll see I've highlighted some in the photos. Although from looking at this coin for so long I see 4s in everything these days 😜 If it were to be a 1944 steel cent can it even be cleaned with the condition it is in?
Here's the first of the photos that will answer some questions that I believe would be first asked - I have read through a lot of forums! In the one photo, the possible 1944 steel cent is the one in the middle, between 1943 steel cents and 1944 cents to see its size.
Comments
Welcome to the forum!
"I actually see numbers all over it.... Although from looking at this coin for so long I see 4s in everything these days"
It's called pareidolia.
The condition of your coin makes for no collector value.
The only 4 & 3 I see is on the readout from your scale. Looks like somebody tossed it in a vat of acid for awhile.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
More photos:
Here's more to show what I see:
Here's the first one that I got that really showed the 4 at the end of 1944 to me. It's black & white to see it even better I believe.I see a 4 over 3, what do you think?
pareidolia
This coin is completely toasted, I don't think there is any way to figure out the date. Keep in mind that this coin is so corroded that the weight being a lot lower than your average cent is not that shocking because it has lost a lot of metal. I personally think it is probably just a toasted 1943 cent.
Collector of Capped Bust Halves, SLQ's, Commems, and random cool stuff! @davidv_numismatics on Instagram
If it sticks to a magnet then its a 1943.
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
I appreciate the welcome & all the comments. Of course, it being a 1944 steel cent would be awesome. I get it about pareidolia, I can have quite the imagination. I'm still going to try one more time to show you what I see, the 4 is so plain to me here.
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If you read the next 2 sentences, I typed out "I personally think it is probably just a toasted 1943 cent" as OP said it stuck to a magnet
Collector of Capped Bust Halves, SLQ's, Commems, and random cool stuff! @davidv_numismatics on Instagram
If you look hard enough at that roached coin you'll see any date you want to see.
It looks sort of like the Full Moon coin from Shirepost Mint.
I see IkesT comment is now gone. Nothing fishy here with me. I have taken up coin collecting as a fun hobby and I came here to get other's opinions because I know very little about coins. I have many coins that I would like to post questions about here, am I going to be questioned every time I do?
My apologies - I had 2 threads open at the same time and accidentally made a post in the wrong one!
Welcome to the Forum.
Thx IkesT for the welcome & apology
I've looked back over EVERY reply to you. I see no where at all you were questioned. Every one has tried to help you and you just don't want to accept it. Put it up for sale on eBay as the "well known" 1944 Over 3 Steel Cent.
If you are convinced that the coin is a 1944 steel cent then it is time to send it in for authentication.
My apologies, once again - I did make a post (now deleted) that was actually meant for someone else on another thread.
@collectorof2much ... Welcome aboard. Your 'coin' is severely damaged, and totally unverifiable. Yes, one can 'see' marks that 'look like' numbers, they are not. Good luck with your collecting. Cheers, RickO
The entire surface of the coin is gone, any numbers you see are just random patterns from the corrosion.
I appreciate the new welcome & replies.
Since that coin is gone it is currently getting some good soaking treatment in whatever it takes to possibly see anything left to be read.
Welcome to the Forum! My experiences with corroded early copper indicates that no amount of soaking in acetone, or alcohol, or olive oil, etc... is going to bring back details that just aren't there.
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Hi @Ikenefic, that's what I figured.
looks like the moon oops that is the moon
To get the collecting bug in 2023 has got to be a challenge. For me in my grade school days, really neat stuff was still available in circulation.
If you decide to concentrate on pre 64 coins.... I think the best way to start is to read as much material as possible and if you find certain types of coins that appeal to you ..... Tread lightly. The coin business has a lot of traps and they are meant to separate you from your wallet. You will learn them either by first hand experience or through warnings from others.
Search function here is beyond extraordinary.
Books on the BST, or coin show vendors or coin clubs or library.
LEARN HOW TO GRADE.