1944 Steel Penny?

First off the rim has got to go, then take a magnet to it. After that check to see if it's been plated, using a good loupe and by any other means that you find acceptable. If all checks out, it'd be time for a independent grader to verify it. Hopefully you'll at this point be able to send it in to PCGS and get about a $100K.

The 1944 Steel cent is quite rare. There were left over steel planchets in the hopper when they started producing 1944 cents. So to be clear;

The 1943 Bronze/Tin (aka copper) cent is rare - This was the year of the Zinc Cent

The 1944 Zinc cent is rare - The Mint went back to using copper in 1944.

Though the pictures aren't real clear, it looks like a copper coin.
Like the folks said above, simply take a magnet to the coin. if it sticks, it could be a steel cent.
REMEMBER - you have foreign material -as in that Jewlery Rim on it, and that may attract the magnet.

People have tried electroplating and dipping coins. Under a decent Loupe or microscope you should see some of the areas not filled in, or possibly any letter or number that is enclosed, like a "9" "4" "B" or any other letter like those may show pooling or excessive metal buildup.

If you feel uncomfortable removing the outter rim yourself, take it to a jeweler and they will probably use a pair of diagonal cutters and a jewelers file to get the rim off without any damage to the coin.

One other thing, Its about the authenticity of the coin. Size the coin up to another penny and make sure it looks the same size and thickness. I don't know if they offered any sort of token or other device that resembled the penny as a sales item after WWII. The coin itself COULD have been Gold plated as well - another sales gimmick to "celebrate" the end of WWII.
Since Copper and Gold are dislike metals, the end result MAY be the color of the coin is changing due to the chemical reaction of the metals.

IF you think it is worth it, you can send the coin into one of the better grading agencies... ANACS (no membership required), PCGS, or NGC. The average price to send in a single coin would run between $30-$55, plus postage.

If it is a 1944 Steel, it is worth a considerable amount of money - and could be sold for a premium at a site like Heritage Auctions. They of course would probably take a percentage of it for "seller's fees".

Good Luck on all future coin collecting adventures !

"Cut a small corner piece of refridgerator magnet less the size of penny place it in the center of the penny, turn the penny upside down."

^ I did as you suggested and it is not falling off.

Did you remove the rim yet? Look at the edge of the coin when you do.

I removed the rim and it is very hard to tell as the edge is very discolored.Is there a way to clean the edge and not harm the coin? If not then I will not do it. I have read other posts where I noticied people stating not to clean the coins. If there is, can you tell me what I am looking for? I am in the Jacksonville, FL area, if anyone knows of a reputable coin dealer in this area to take it to, I would be grateful for the information.

Biokemist6 I am by no means stating that I can tell the difference in the weight of the coin, as I am not a human scale. But thank you for the advice and I will not make such an error again in assuming and posting that I can tell the difference in the weight of a coin just by holding it. As I am extremely new at this, I was not aware that people would take my comments so literal. My grandmother, who I was extremly close to, passed away 6 years ago, and I am just now at the point where I am able to open the bag of coins she gave me. At this point I am just attempting to learn as much as I can about the coins she gave me so that when I pass them down to my own children they will not have to try and figure out each coin and what it is. I will ensure that I do not make such a comment as that again.

Do you know how long your grandmother had this particular coin?

to the forum. There ain't no other place like this place so this must be the place (for learning.) Lots of astute folks on this forum so look & learn. A few of their answers might not be what you want to hear, but that goes with the learning curve. We were all newbies in this hobby at one time or other and we too thought we had treasures that really weren't there. I really hope your cent is a steelie. If so you can buy us all a drink. Good luck!

If you can weight the coin as Bio's suggested, that would eliminate the second possibility in questions.

A normal steel cent weight 2.7 grams, copper cent weight 3.11 grams, if you don't have a weight scale that gives you tenths or hundreds of a gram, go to a pharmacy center and see if that the pharmacist can do you that favor. Anything that goes over the 2.7 grams, is for sure that is plated from the past.