By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
- The 1944 Lincoln Cent was the primary U.S. cent with a mintage of over one billion cash.
- Legend states that they had been struck on planchets constructed from spent brass cartridges throughout World Struggle II.
- A handful of transitional off-metal errors exist, struck on zinc-plated metal planchets left over from 1943.
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The 1944 Lincoln Cent adopted the experimental and largely derided 1943 Lincoln Metal Cent. The 1943 cent was a historic first for the United States Mint: the primary one-cent coin not struck in copper. The zinc-plated metal cents entered manufacturing in February 1943 and wrapped up on December 31.
For the 1944 subject, the Performing Secretary of the Treasury filed discover of the Treasury Division’s intent to revert to bronze cents on a December 15, 1943, submitting. Three days later, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the mandatory authorizations into legislation.
The 1944 Lincoln Cent was struck in astronomically excessive numbers, and on the time it was struck, it was the primary U.S. cent with a mintage of 1 billion cash or extra. By the Nineteen Eighties, the Mint routinely pumped out the identical quantity in two or three months.
Manufacturing of a 95% copper, 5% zinc coin commenced on January 1, 1944. The official story was that the cents had been struck utilizing spent brass cartridges from World Struggle II. Numismatic researcher David W. Lange dismissed this concept in his Full Information to Lincoln Cents (2nd Ed., 2005), saying that the 1944 Lincoln Cent’s huge 1,435,400,000 mintage was a lot too excessive for the entire cash to be struck from reclaimed battle materials. Lange acknowledges, nevertheless, that shell casing materials was utilized to strike some 1944 cents.
How A lot Is the 1944 Lincoln Cent in Copper Value?
The 1944 Lincoln Cent struck in copper isn’t a uncommon coin. It noticed heavy circulation after its launch and solely disappeared from circulation attributable to attrition and the truth that most of the people withdrew Wheat Cents from circulation as they turned much less prevalent a decade or two into manufacturing of the Lincoln Memorial Cent. In circulated situation, the 1944 Lincoln Cent stays ample in “unsearched roll” choices and different bulk assortments of Wheat Cents.
A run-of-the-mill circulated instance would possibly promote on eBay for between 50¢ and $1. In Mint State Pink, nevertheless, the worth of the 1944 Lincoln Cent will increase to about $12.50 in MS65RD and about $150 in MS67RD. Many uncertified uncirculated rolls in unique Pink seemingly survive, and present information doesn’t replicate the true dimension of the surviving inhabitants. Within the high grades, we count on some progress, however the majority of the uncertified Pink cash (we estimate) would grade MS65RD or beneath – which places these cash beneath the terminal level for coin certification.
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Market Knowledge and Noteworthy Specimens
The PCGS inhabitants of MS67+RD cash stood at simply 5 items with none finer when the primary instance Heritage Auctions provided appeared in September 2014. Since then, the inhabitants has elevated to 109 (as of October 2024). We’ve additionally seen a corresponding decline in hammer costs from $2,232 to about $300 right this moment. With the explosion of MS67+RDs additionally got here a small improve within the variety of MS68RD cash.
As talked about earlier, we don’t suppose a full evaluation of the remaining Mint State Pink 1944 cents has but occurred. As collectors kind and submit these cash, we’ll see continued market declines for these Very good Gem examples.
Additionally value noting is that, of the foremost public sale corporations, GreatCollections most continuously presents this date in excessive grade.
Prime Inhabitants: PCGS MS68RD (4, 10/2024), NGC MS68RD (4, 10/2024), and CAC MS68RD (1:0 stickered:graded, 10/2024).
- NGC MS68RD #2076759-003: Stack’s Bowers, March 1, 2019, Lot 7056 – $1,560; GreatCollections, October 22, 2023, Lot 1443664 – View.
- PCGS MS68RD #43877354: GreatCollections, Might 1, 2022, Lot 955521 – View.
- PCGS MS68RD #25674724: “The Jerald L. Martin Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, January 10, 2019, Lot 4105 – $11,400. Jerald L. Martin Assortment on insert.
- PCGS MS67+RD CAC #49554351: GreatCollections, November 3, 2024, Lot 1685623 – View. Safe Defend holder.
- PCGS MS67+RD CAC #50486943: GreatCollections, October 20, 2024, Lot 1670417 – View. Safe Defend holder.
- PCGS MS67+RD #43661839: GreatCollections, September 29, 2024, Lot 1665979 – View.
- PCGS MS67+RD CAC #35046118: GreatCollections, September 29, 2024, Lot 1644820 – View.
- PCGS MS67+RD #47803777: GreatCollections, August 4, 2024, Lot 1622725 – View. Safe Defend holder.
- PCGS MS67+RD CAC #46252620: GreatCollections, April 14, 2024, Lot 1562582 – View. Safe Defend holder; GreatCollections, June 16, 2024, Lot 1594795 – View. Safe Defend holder.
- PCGS MS67+RD CAC #25629110: GreatCollections, April 7, 2024, Lot 1415266 – View.
- PCGS MS67+RD CAC #37758301: Stack’s Bowers, August 10, 2020, Lot 4560 – $336.
- PCGS MS67+RD #25207737: Heritage Auctions, June 4, 2015, Lot 3213 – $1,057.50.
- PCGS MS67+RD #25276583: Heritage Auctions, September 5, 2014, Lot 3719 – $2,232.50.
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Coin Specs
| Nation: | United States of America |
| Yr of Problem: | 1944 |
| Denomination: | One Cent (USD) |
| Mintmark: | None (Philadelphia) |
| Mintage: | 1,435,400,000 |
| Alloy: | .950 Copper, .050 Zinc |
| Weight: | 3.11 g |
| Diameter: | 19.00 mm |
| Edge: | Plain |
| OBV Designer: | Victor David Brenner |
| REV Designer: | Victor David Brenner |
| High quality: | Enterprise Strike |
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1944 Lincoln Cent Struck on Metal
Presumably 25 to 30 examples exist. The 1944 Metal Cent was found by collector Richard Fenton in 1945.
In keeping with David Lange, one instance of the 1943 Copper and 1944 Metal Cent was given as a present to Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock, who later gave them to a “feminine acquaintance.”
In late 1987, collector Rick Ortega of Jacksonville, Florida, found one in an unsearched bag of 1943 metal cents that he bought from seller Don Kittsmiller, operator of Duval Cash. Kittsmiller thought the coin was a probable counterfeit, however beneficial that Ortega submit the coin to ANACS for authentication.
Collector John Whitney Walter owned a minimum of three examples. The PCGS MS64 inhabitants has doubled since 2013.
Prime Inhabitants: PCGS MS64 (4, 10/2024), NGC AU58 (1, 10/2024), and CAC MS64 (1:0 stickered:graded, 10/2024).
*Notice: The CAC census report claims one coin stickered at MS65. No MS65 coin is reported in both NGC or PCGS information.
- PCGS MS64 #25513957: Heritage Auctions, Might 9, 2024, Lot 4406 – $108,000. Safe Defend holder.
- PCGS MS64 #18523968: Heritage Auctions, January 2016, Lot 5270; “The Bob R. Simpson Assortment, Half VI,” Heritage Auctions, August 18, 2021, Lot 3001 – $108,000. Simpson on insert.
- PCGS MS64 #05571105: Heritage Auctions, June 17, 2021, Lot 3043 – $180,000.
- PCGS MS64 CAC #26441690: Stack’s Bowers, August 14, 2013, Lot 4411 – $158,625.
- PCGS MS63 #689344-010: “The John Whitney Walter Assortment,” Stack’s Bowers, August 15, 2018, Lot 1404 – $48,000.
- PCGS MS62 #34859787: Stack’s Bowers, March 22, 2018, Lot 2190 – $45.600.
- PCGS MS61 #31671190: “The Bob R. Simpson Assortment,” Heritage Auctions, January 7, 2016, Lot 5268 – $30,550. Simpson novelty insert. Notable deep hit behind Lincoln’s head. Darkish spot beneath B of LIBERTY.
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Coin Specs
| Nation: | United States of America |
| Yr of Problem: | 1944 |
| Denomination: | One Cent (USD) |
| Mintmark: | None (Philadelphia) |
| Mintage: | As much as 30 recognized, few in Mint State. |
| Alloy: | Zinc-coated Metal |
| Weight: | 2.70 g |
| Diameter: | 19.00 mm |
| Edge: | Plain |
| OBV Designer: | Victor David Brenner |
| REV Designer: | Victor David Brenner |
| High quality: | Enterprise Strike |
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