1944 Steel Cent Authenticity

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Numismaphile
Numismaphile Posts: 70 ✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

Trying to help a fellow collector. I would like to know whether any of you can confidently rule out authenticity of this 1944-S steel. It's the right weight and sticks to a magnet. My guess is the last digit is altered but invite confirmation. Thank you.


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  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    From what I see based off of the pictures, the coin looks date altered and coated with steel.

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  • FredWeinberg
    FredWeinberg Posts: 6,039 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Plated, at a minimum….and as mentioned, probably altered.
    Not a genuine Steel cent error,imo

    Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
  • JWP
    JWP Posts: 37,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I sent a 1944 cent in for grading and it was returned ungraded due to being plated.
    Sometimes these are are hard to tell if they are plated.
    It cost me a $20 gradimg fee.

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Answers

  • World67
    World67 Posts: 13,098 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    You need better pics than that.

  • Numismaphile
    Numismaphile Posts: 70 ✭✭
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    Thanks, I realize they are not great. I am already concluding the last digit is too high, and the surface is porous; we think someone altered a 1943 and then plated it to brighten it up.

  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,749 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @pcgsregistrycollector said:
    From what I see based off of the pictures, the coin looks date altered and coated with steel.

    The steel planchets used by the US Mint to strike the 1943 cents were zinc plated steel so the subject altered date cent was probably zinc plated to hide the alteration and to give it a uniform color.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
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  • jonathanb
    jonathanb Posts: 4,154 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 26, 2025 9:29AM
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    @JWP said:
    Sometimes these are are hard to tell if they are plated.

    Plated copper is nonmagnetic, or at most weakly magnetic. I can't think of a situation where it would be hard to tell if a copper example was plated.

  • Numismaphile
    Numismaphile Posts: 70 ✭✭
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    Thank you everyone, on behalf of the poor fellow who paid $300 for this. We are helping him get a refund.

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