1944 Wheat Steel Penny

True, but the best I know, there is no way to tell them apart from common steel planchets. Right?

Vimo, your first imperative here is to come up with an accurate weight. This must be accurate to 0.01g. Secondly, determine if there is a gold/jewelry buyer/seller on the Island who is large enough to own an XRF Analyzer - X-Ray Fluorescence is a non-invasive procedure which, in this usage, determines the alloy composition of any precious metal to include revealing plating if it's there. It's not a cheap tool, in excess of $10,000, but a high-volume precious metals dealer could be reasonably expected to have a unit because of the accuracy improvement for their business. It leaves no chance regarding the composition of what they're looking at.

Such a dealer will have the ability to both weigh and analyze your coin to the degree of accuracy necessary. It's quite possible that such a firm can be found in San Juan.

Does it just stick to the magnet, or does it JUMP to the magnet?

An accurate weight is an important test, as Dave said in grams to two decimal places.



Nope,both coins used the same planchets. The Weight Tolerance range can account for the slight reported difference in weight spec, and the collar they are struck in determines the diameter. A "Belgium" planchet struck in a cent collar will have the same diameter as a cent. Thickness specifications are meaningless on struck coins, it can only be applied to the strip they are punched from.

This is fantastic!! How awesome would this be?

Actually, EDXRF is primarily a surface technique, especially on solid materials. It's not good for determining if something is plated. You're a little off on the price. LOL We just bought a new instrument in December and it was $77,000.

A June 21, 2001 press release stated the following:
ICG Grades Finest Known 1944 Steel Cent.
The article goes on to explain who owns it, where purchased, when purchased, etc. Also, with the article was a photo in the ICG slab and graded as MS64, and noted as from the William R. Sieck Collection.
With such proof of this coins existance, again I would like to strees to be carefull of what you do with it, who you show it to, how to handle it. For the small amount of money you would invest to send it to a compamy like PCGS or NGC via registered mail would be the smartest thing to do.
Spending time trying to weigh it or pick at it may not prove anything. Any local personal that could or would test it may well never give it back. Your possibly handling something worth many thousands of dollars so be carefull.