Shell Casing Cents 1944 To 1946 Question

The Annual Report of the Director of the US Mint for Fiscal Year 1944 states that the use of an alloy of 95% copper and 5% zinc for the one-cent coin began on January 1, 1944. It also states that the zinc-coated steel cent was struck through December 31, 1943. The change back to a copper cent was "made as a result of the availability of fired brass cartridge cases, to which copper is added." The cartridge cases to be used were not 95% copper; depending on the cartridge, the copper content varied between 70 and 85% - pure copper had to be added to the melted cartridges to get the overall alloy up to 95% copper.

The 1945 and 1946 Annual Reports continue to specify the 95% copper / 5% zinc alloy; in 1945 the Report references the fired brass cartridges, no such reference was specifically included in the 1946 Report.

The Annual Report of the Director of the US Mint for Fiscal Year 1947, lists that the "shell casing" alloy of 95% copper and 5% zinc was used to coin 1,066,780,000 cents between between July and December 1946. Beginning in January 1947, an alloy of 95% copper, 2.5% zinc and 2.5% tin was used. As with the 1946 Report, there is no specific mention of fired brass cartridge cases being used.

The 1947 Report does not discuss any calendar/coin date overlap of either alloy - of course, a small amount of planchets of one or the other alloy being used in the incorrect year is certainly possible (but not documented).

I was getting ready to post a question on shell-case cents, but searching the forum I found this has been discussed at quite some length in this thread. Thanks for all the information and discussion - it was very useful and answered my question!

There are other factors to consider, in addition to composition.

The three mints had one goal: produce large quantities of coins as quickly and efficiently as possible. They weren't trying to produce pieces of art. They were trying to meet wartime commerce demands.

This played out in several ways.

First, alloy controls were loose. This accounts for the variation in color of the shell casing cents. It also accounts for the exceptional number of woodies and laminations during this era.

Second, dies were badly overworked. This accounts for the abundance of VLDS strikes, die cracks and chips, and poorly struck coins.

Third, everyone was eager to replace the zinc plated steel cents with anything. Nobody cared about the appearance or strike quality of the new cents. They did care that they worked in commerce. The widespread acceptance of the new cents simplified the task for the mints.

The abundance of shell casing cents in circulation through the 1970s attests to their durability and acceptance. Steel cents were found occasionally in the early 1960s, but very rarely after that.

Yes, the composition varies considerably from coin to coin. Still, they almost universally are within tolerance, and are definitely acceptable for commerce. The difference in color, from yellowish brown to chocolate brown, reflects slight variations in the zinc content in the alloy.

Bottom line: the alloy change is an interesting piece of history, but not consequential.