Can anyone compare new cents from 1941, 1942 and 1944 – preferably from original rolls?

RWB

In researching 1942 cent and nickel alloy experiments, I came across information suggesting that the mint switched to 95% copper, 5% zinc in 1942. This is the same alloy used in 1944, and later, when recycled cartridge cases were melted for coinage. Does anyone have cents from 1941, 1942 and 1944 that can be compared for original color? Is there a difference in color?

Thanks!

UtahCoin

Here is part of an original roll. Color looks like any copper cent today. (31 of the 50 were MS65)

RWB

Interesting. The "conventional wisdom" has been that cents made from "shell case copper" (95% Cu, 5% Zn) were slightly different in color from the normal French bronze alloy (95% Cu, 5% equal parts Zn and Sn).

cmerlo1

Here's a 1944-d I still think is of a different alloy...When I got it, I thought it was truly a 'shell-case' coin:

Linky

cladking

A lot of the '44 cents appeared "brassy".

I always took this to mean that these were alloyed with a lot of the shell casings
though it could be the other way around. About a third (of the P & D) had this effect.
There were relatively few that fell in between normal and brassy.