Wheat Cent Experts - Grading help on 43 please

CollectorBob

I inherited a handful of '43 Steel Pennies that are marked PL. I'm thinking of sending these in for grading, but before I spend my time/dollars I request you to please take a look (I'll post more of them over the next few days) and help me grade these! Thanks a ton!

SilverEagles92

If they are PL in hand, chances are that they are reprocessed. If they were reprocessed, they will not slab.

OneCent

Hi Bob.

Nice wheat cent there. As you probably know, 1943 steel cents are extremely common so it does not make sense to grade them unless you can assure yourself at least an MS66 grade. The coin that you posted would not meet that criteria. It has a deep gash under the E on the reverse, plus some minor hits on the obverse. In my opinion, I don't think that this coin would grade higher than a 64 with a 63 more likely.

CollectorBob

Thanks guys. OneCent, I'm going to post some more pics later tonight. Please let me know which of the coins would stand a shot at being a MS-66 and I'll only send those in for grading. Thanks for your time and help. Regards...

WaterSport

Do you know what a reprocessed cent is and can you tell the difference? I can not be sure with that pic, but one thing is common with processed cents and the one you have...they were usually are circulated and thus come with a bunch of hits.

WS

pharmer

You say they are marked PL. Are they in 2x2's? Is this written on them? How about an image of one of the 2x2's also. First, no such thing as a prooflike 1943 cent, except in a seller's mind maybe. Even the slabbed 68's aren't prooflike. Next, I wonder if he meant PLated. The fields on that reverse look funky.

CollectorBob

Sorry, but no, I don't know what "processed" means.

And, YES, they were all in 2x2s with very rusty staples and each 2x2 was in a plastic "sheet" that holds 6. Some of the coins seem ruined because "brown" dirt from where the plastic was touching the coins. I'll post a pic of that too.

nccoin

The coin you have pictured is reprocessed. Pretty easy to see. Many rolls floating around out there like this. Most are XF-AU coins with the PLated look.

CollectorBob

OKay, here's the next:





Does this look "reprocessed" too?

Thanks.

SilverEagles92

<< <i>OKay, here's the next:





Does this look "reprocessed" too?

Thanks. >>


Yes.

Reprocessed basically means that the coins were re-plated with steel, sometime after being minted. They tend to have shiny PL surfaces, and a bluish color to them. I guess this could be considered post-mint damage. Some of the larger distributors did this to the coins so they would shine like (pardon the pun) a new penny in their proprietary packaging.

mrpotatoheadd

Here is an uncirculated example:

MORGANHUNTER2

Funny- I have a set of 43's that are blu'd- in PCGS holders as well.. Never stopped them from slabbing them.

Steel that is clean will have a bluing tint- part of the zinc processing- now if it showed a sign of oranging- then you have a rust/oxidation process happening- another natural act of steel mixed with zinc oxides.


Work in a steel mill when a kid- you learn about metallurgy very quickly.

Swampboy

My guess is plated too.

If you have an S mint with a die crack similar to the reverse on this one I would be interested in it reprocessed or not.



You can see running up towards the rim from the "O".
Thanks.

-Gil

CollectorBob

Is "reprocessing" something the mint did or is this done by someone else?

I'm just having a tough time understanding where the person that I got these coins from must have gone wrong. Thanks.

Swampboy

<< <i>Is "reprocessing" something the mint did or is this done by someone else?

I'm just having a tough time understanding where the person that I got these coins from must have gone wrong. Thanks. >>



They were sold everywhere in the 50s 60s as I remember and it wouldn't suprise me if your person bought them thinking they were Mint State.
Heck, I was duped. I think I'm in good company.