1944 S Wheat Penny: could this be a zinc-coated steel?

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Hi everyone! I am a new member and I hope you can provide me further information about this coin, it would be greatly appreciated.

I just came across to this 1944 s penny in my pile of wheat pennies. Obviously, really worn out for being unkept, neglected for almost 75 years and when I weighed it, this one passed the initial diagnostic as it weighs 2.75g.

I cannot confirm with the second diagnostic yet, I am not so sure as when I tried using the ref magnet I only have available (I put it on top of the coin), it won't hold it but maybe because I wasn't doing it right or this penny is just too corroded and rotten? Under magnification, I could see grayish color underneath but this coin is just really well beat up.

I have done some research and compared some notes with the altered version and searched for the worst type of unpleasant looking and corroded 1943 zinc-coated steel and 1944 copper pennies photos just to have better references.

I have also learned that steel cents can quickly started to rust and deteriorated. I am also aware a well circulated, damaged and corroded coin could decrease its weight but it should still be within the coin weight tolerance depending on its mass/density composition.

I really hope to hear from the experts to share their thorough knowledge from my inquiry. Thank you in advance.

Appears to be just a normal 1944 cent, apparently with environmental damage.

to the CCF!

to the Community!

Your post was moved to the appropriate forum for the proper attention.

to the Community! I agree with Coinfrog.

with jim0815 who agrees with Coinfrog .

To CCF! Just a heavily damaged Wheat cent. It shows Post Strike Damage ( PSD), meaning that it happened after it left the U.S. Mint.

Thank you for all of your input and welcoming me. It's been circulating for almost 75 years, environmental damaged? Most definitely! With all due respect and am grateful for giving me your opinions but hopefully you can help me more if I may ask...what made it easily for you to figure out or say it is just environmental damaged that made it weigh 2.75g? Is it because I said I cannot confirm with the second diagnostic yet? Am also wondering and curious now with all of the damaged and corroded wheat coins I came across with, much worst than this but weight is still within the allotted weight tolerance, am confused now and hope you can elaborate more so I will have a better understanding about it. Thank you.

It has simply lost weight due to wear and erosion of the surfaces, possibly due to environmental damage (being buried?) or even acid treatment. I don't think there's much more to be said.

Have you checked with a magnet? Steel will attract.

Having said that, I agree with the other comments - appears to have suffered some time in harsh conditions.

Okay got it

Nevertheless, I'll keep it until I can get a good magnet to test it with. Thank you#128515;

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