1942 Wheat Penny Is It Special? - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 8 / Views: 307
Steve K Valued Member United States 108 Posts	Posted 05/06/2026 12:25 am I found this 1942 Wheat penny in a bank penny roll that looks different. It is not the usual dull brown but has black streaks on the obverse and is mostly black on the reverse. In the first picture taken at a angle may look like scratches but it is not scratches. See last picture that is taken straight down. It weighs 3.21 grams. I was reading about 1942 experimental pennies that were made with several different metals to try to reduce copper content. Only one documented 1942 experimental penny is known to exist. It has black streaks. I wonder if this is another one. I will have it graded to know for sure one way or the other. Any thoughts? Report this Post to the Staff

nfine Pillar of the Community United States 3467 Posts	Posted 05/06/2026 01:19 am The weight of your Lincoln Cent is within mint tolerance - 3.11g +/- 0.12g. Report this Post to the Staff
Marv65 Bedrock of the Community United States 10470 Posts	Posted 05/06/2026 03:28 am Quote: It is not the usual dull brown but has black streaks on the obverse and is mostly black on the reverse. Sometimes coins have bad alloy mixes causing streaks in the metal but they run the same direction as the metal is rolled out the blank thickness. Also coins can get roller lines from dirt/grease being on the rollers but those are all in parallel lines too. Seeing your "streaks" have different directions to them I think they might just be stains or the obverse was haphazardly cleaned. Report this Post to the Staff
Steve K Valued Member United States 108 Posts	Posted 05/06/2026 07:55 am After looking at this penny under high magnification it appears to be coated with something like Jap-A-Lac a common high grade clear varnish popular in the 1940s and 50s and people were painting everything with it. It was advertised as a cleaner to make things shine. Several chips in the coating are found around the rim. I think someone thought it was a good idea to paint the penny along with everything else in the house. It ruined the penny. Oh well. Report this Post to the Staff
JimmyD Bedrock of the Community Canada 21580 Posts	Posted 05/06/2026 08:46 am Perhaps soaking it in pure acetone for about 24 hours may remove it. Rinse with distilled water after soaking. This may help. Report this Post to the Staff
nickelsearcher Moderator United States 15381 Posts	Posted 05/06/2026 2:31 pm Quote: I will have it graded to know for sure one way or the other. Any thoughts? Yes - it would have been an absolute waste of money to have this coin graded. I'm glad for your sake that you reconsidered. Value is 1 cent. Take a look at my other hobby ... http://www.jk-dk.art Report this Post to the Staff
Marv65 Bedrock of the Community United States 10470 Posts	Posted 05/06/2026 3:43 pm "Coated with something " - makes sense. Glad you found that out instead of sending it in to a TPG. Report this Post to the Staff
Dearborn Moderator United States 94586 Posts	Posted 05/06/2026 7:15 pm maybe the extra weight can be attributed to the lacquer or what ever was added to the cent. Collecting since 1972. Learning from then on "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin 7070 type set coin count: 51/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Sacagawea Dollars Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels 1938-2005 Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 187446 Posts	Posted 05/07/2026 10:07 am Quote: maybe the extra weight can be attributed to the lacquer or what ever was added to the cent. Seems plausible. Coin Collector Since 1978 Avatar Old Avatar 7070 Eisenhower Australia Canada World CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
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