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.....and I seem to be getting fixated on coins.

.... to the Community and the hobby!
Your "194x" (or whatever it is) cent is too damaged to be worth anything more than face, or melt, value.
If you are determined it's a 1943 cent then go ahead and submit it to ANACS for authentication and grading. At least you'll learn how to submit coins. Treat the grading and postage fees as "tuition" towards your Numismatics degree that you'll never get.
I've been studying towards my degree for almost 65 years! I know I will die before I graduate!