1943 Steel - Corrosion Or Bad Plating

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Author	Replies: 9 / Views: 462
JMK New Member United States 2 Posts	Posted 03/12/2025 9:15 pm Going through a few dozen steel pennies that were wrapper at the time of circulation. They are in great shape. The wheat is very clear and other than grease and pock marks from the die filled with grease, they are clean. Some do have slight dust on them from humidity I would guess. But it mostly comes off with a wipe with a soft glasses cloth. But is the corrosion or bad plating? Report this Post to the Staff

ijn1944 Bedrock of the Community United States 17047 Posts	Posted 03/12/2025 9:26 pm Looks to me like exposure to a corrosive environment over time. I've gone through thousands of steel cents and have seen many, many similar examples. Report this Post to the Staff
Hondo Boguss Bedrock of the Community United States 16613 Posts	Posted 03/12/2025 9:29 pm to the CCF, JMK! I'm voting for corrosion. Pitting as seen on your coin is not from a grease-filled die. Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures Report this Post to the Staff
Spence Moderator United States 32884 Posts	Posted 03/12/2025 9:34 pm @jmk, first welcome to CCF. Second, yes that looks like corrosion to me too, especially at the top on the obv. Finally, I'm a little concerned about your comment of wiping down this coin. It may not make too much of a difference due to the condition on this specific cent, but that is not a good practice for higher value/better condition modern coins. About all we recommend is a bath in pure acetone. Then air dry--no wiping of any sort. "If you climb a good tree, you get a push." -----Ghanaian proverb "The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed." -----King Adz Report this Post to the Staff
Tacc Pillar of the Community United States 3513 Posts	Posted 03/12/2025 10:05 pm The '43 steelies in my collection vary from MS condition to natural corrosion/environmental damage. Just seeing common corrosion on yours. Report this Post to the Staff
jbuck Moderator United States 159316 Posts	Posted 03/13/2025 11:03 am to the Community! Coin Collector Since 1978 My Avatar My Old Avatar My 7070 My Eisenhower Dollars CCF Members on eBay CCF eBay Search Engine Report this Post to the Staff
JMK New Member United States 2 Posts	Posted 03/13/2025 3:42 pm Thank you for all the responses. I particularly appreciate the comment on wiping and acetone. These steels were wrapped in the 1940s (according to the paper they were in) and not heavily ciruclated. Some better than others but most have very clean wheat stalks on the back - a lot of grease unfortunately. Report this Post to the Staff
Marve65 Pillar of the Community United States 4972 Posts	Posted 03/13/2025 4:16 pm Soak it in lemon juice - at least it will work on the rust Report this Post to the Staff
Dearborn Moderator United States 66551 Posts	Posted 03/13/2025 9:40 pm to CCF. 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: 47/76 Uncirculated American Silver Eagles My American Silver Eagle Proof Collection Innovation Dollars Eisenhower-Dollars Kennedy-Half Dollars Washington-Quarters Roosevelt-Dimes Buffalo-Nickels Jefferson-Nickels Lincoln-Cents Report this Post to the Staff
Errers and Varietys Bedrock of the Community United States 56169 Posts	Posted 03/14/2025 01:29 am I vote environmental damage. Errers and Varietys. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 9 / Views: 462

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