1943 Steelies - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 1,166
Irishraider Pillar of the Community United States 1454 Posts	Posted 10/19/2006 8:46 pm My boss' Mother had a small coin collection that he wanted me to evaluate for her. There were a bag of 1943 Steel Wheat Cents in a little baggie. They are what appear to be MS coins. Very bright and shiny and virtually uncirculated. I thought EUREKA, what a find when I first saw them and then remembered something someone had said about people and or coin companies re-coating these. I have a couple of pictures here, they are from my scanner so you can't really see the almost blinding shininess of the coins. What are the opinions of the Community on these? They all look like this. Good Grief! I have to get me a digital camera for Christmas! Imagine these real shiny and almost like they just came fresh off the die, that is how they look. They look nothing like the scanned picture. Edited by Irishraider 10/19/2006 8:49 pm Report this Post to the Staff

Susanlynn9 Forum Mom United States 5877 Posts	Posted 10/19/2006 9:05 pm I have found that recoated steel cents have an almost bluish cast. If the edge is also shiny, then it has been recoated. The planchets were punched after the zinc coating was applied, so the edges are not coated. That's why it's so hard to find these in really nice condition. I can't tell from scans whether they look recoated or not because I can't see luster or shine. I vote that you should get yourself a digital camera for Christmas!! Report this Post to the Staff
dsking Pillar of the Community United States 2365 Posts	Posted 10/19/2006 9:41 pm While it is difficult to tell for sure from the scan...I would say that there is no indication of re-coating. I would suggest that you buy/find a re-coated one and compare them. Re-coating is very obvious when you compare it with an MS Steel Penny. Also, depending upon the age of your bosses Mother, it is quite common for the "older folks" to keep their little coins in plastic baggies which would mean that they have not been in contact with air or moisture - result: MS condition. The best way that I can describe a re-coating is that they look "textured"/"grainy" where an MS is smooth. The luster is about the same IMO. I'll try to post a comparison photo for you tomorrow when I have natural lighting for a pic. I second the vote for a dig camera. I scanned for months but, the dig makes a BIG difference here. Edited by dsking 10/19/2006 10:01 pm Report this Post to the Staff
scoutjim99 Pillar of the Community United States 4589 Posts	Posted 10/20/2006 3:32 pm I believe they have been reconditioned and also not unc bu ef/au sliders. but thats what is ee from the photos only so I could be wrong . Report this Post to the Staff
dsking Pillar of the Community United States 2365 Posts	Posted 10/21/2006 12:13 am I haven't forgotten about you. The pics I took last night were much better than the ones I took this morning in the daylight - go figure! I got side-tracked this afternoon and have to work tomorrow. I'll try again tomorrow night to get a pic of both for you. I am however, looking at your scans again and am thinking that maybe it is a worn re-coating. hmmmmm Thought provoking! Report this Post to the Staff
Irishraider Pillar of the Community United States 1454 Posts	Posted 10/21/2006 12:17 am Deb, take your time, no hurry. My gut feeling is that they have been re-coated but never having dealt much with pennies and only going by what I have heard in the past I just wanted to get some opinions. Perhaps I need to learn more about Lincoln cents anyhoo. Report this Post to the Staff
dsking Pillar of the Community United States 2365 Posts	Posted 10/22/2006 10:14 pm With the exception of the color, these pics show the graininess that I was talking about. It's not quite as obvious but, I think that you'll be able to see the difference. A recoat job just looks strange and to a sharp eye, such as yours, you will know the difference. Hope these help though. Image: Recoated 1943 Ob.jpg 92.5 KB Image: Recoated 1943 Rev.jpg 98.22 KB Report this Post to the Staff
just carl Bedrock of the Community United States 20753 Posts	Posted 10/23/2006 08:37 am I wouldn't worry about if those are recoated or not. If as you say thye came from an elderly lady that had a small coin collection, she probably saved those from when they were new. However, even if MS condition they are not of any great value since so many people did save them back then there are many around in MS. You may want to check out any with the D mint mark since there were some Doubled ones that would go for about $60 or $70. At coin shows in MS60 or better they sell for about $2 or $3 each. If you tried to sell them to a dealer they would give you about $1 eachs if your lucky. As I said they are plentiful. For example I was there when they first came out and saved as many as I could afford as a kid. I now have 26 rolls of them in MS. Report this Post to the Staff
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