1943 steel cents

sinin1

I am curious what uncirculated steel cents look like - compared to dipped - what does dipped steel look like? The reason I ask is an ebay auction that reminds me of something I have that I thought was only worth a couple bucks.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=545&item=1949746989&rd=1
special wartime issues

MadMarty

I have a box of those, better start auctioning them in the UK!!! Looks like a shill bidder!!!

merz2

sinin1
I think you'll find a dipped steel cent usually has a film on it.That has been my experience.For what it is worth.

coppercoins

Oh geesh....those aren't dipped, they're recoated - even worse! Those things have a value of exactly one cent each, they've been numismatically destroyed.

A BU steel cent will look very much like the typical bronze wheat cents in texture and surface luster, except for the obvious fact that they are silver in color. They should have a cartwheel (the recoated cents don't - they look chrome), and will usually have a steel-bluish hint of color. They usually tone toward gray or blue, however, many of them have been stored in plastic tubes which seem to hinder toning. Others have been dipped, but if done properly they won't be noticeable as such and are perfectly fine.

Cam40

$40 for three raw steel pennies?Well ,maybe if they were all slabbed PCGS MS66.
Not a good deal IMO.

tjkillian

Check out my recently photographed type set and there you will find a nice example of an uncirculated steel cent

Tom's Complete type set in the registry

Tom

coppercoins

Nice die crack across the forehead on that 1943D, tjkillian. Nice photo too...very representative of exactly what a BU steelie should look like.

sinin1

Thanks for the link Tom - you have some very nice coins (your 1938-D Buffalo looks alot like a 1937-D Buffalo).

Conder101

NEVER dip a steel cent in a standard dip solution like Jewel lustre or EZest, tarnex etc. The acid in the dip reacts VERY rapidly with the zinc plating (looks a little bit like an alka-seltzer) and you wind up with a black cent.

tjkillian

Sinin1, if you like the 1938-D Buffalo then you should also like the the "1962" Franklin Half Dollar.

Coppercoins, thanks I've been working on it but with my new camera, they make them look like they should.

Tom

Bulldog

I have a box full of similar 43's. I just hand them out to kids. I do have a few nice, originals and I think that I will just keep them.

Bulldog

caroljo

I have a set of S, P & D Steel cents in a plastic case (mine just says U.S. Steel Cents, it doesn't state Wartime) - they look nice and shiny, but when I touch them, 2 of them feel kindo rough. Would that be from dipping?

Bikingnut

I also think they are recoated, but I wouldn't trust that one bid either. IMO, either the single bid is a shill bid in an attempt to pull in other bids, or it's someone who also resides in GB that has no clue what they are bidding on.