The Birth of a Numismatic Legend
The 1943 Bronze Lincoln Cent represents one of the most iconic and fascinating minting errors in the history of American coinage. This legendary coin was never supposed to be produced. At the height of World War II, the United States Mint officially transitioned from using a copper-based bronze alloy to zinc-coated steel for penny production. This temporary measure was implemented under orders from the War Production Board to conserve essential copper for vital military supplies, such as shell casings, telephone wires, and other wartime hardware.
Leftover bronze planchets from 1942 accidentally remained in the minting presses when 1943 steel cent production began, resulting in a tiny number of bronze pennies entering circulation around 1947 and sparking a nationwide search.
Pages: 1 2