1978 LMC Experimental

I think that the potential for disaster is as great as what we saw with the 1943 zinc-plated steel cents of 1943. That was the dumbest combination of metals known to man, in my humble opinion.

I think that it will take a lot more time to assess the use of steel as a component of more recent coinage.

If we look at the overall problems associated with the copper-plated zinc coinage, (another piece of genius with respect to composition), we see that we find a lot of the coinage was to some extent protected by the copper plating.
I find a lot of post 1982 cents that really are not compromised that badly.

Of course, we've also seen some of the worst cents on the planet when the copper plating is compromised.

I think that the steel will hold up better than the zinc cores of todays cents and 25 year old copper-plated zinc coins are still functioning for the most part.

When we look at the 1943 steel composition cents, most look bad and are effected by rust and damage but we can still tell what they are even after the zinc has long ago been worn away.

It's an interesting question and time will tell.

What do you think based upon some of my thoughts?

Bill