1943-D Lincoln Steel Cent Plating Worn

Updated September 4, 2026

A 1943-D Lincoln wheat cent struck on zinc-plated steel, in a stapled 2x2 flip marked STeeL 1943 D. The photographs show a clear 1943 date with the D mint mark below it. The coin is medium to dark gray with mottled brown-gray patches where the plating has worn and toned away, most noticeably across the fields and the shoulder. Surfaces are dull and slightly grainy with scattered darker spots, and there is light circulation wear on the cheek and jaw. The reverse matches, gray with darker mottling and a few pale specks. No red rust and no active bright corrosion were seen. Copper was diverted to the war effort in 1943, so the Mint struck cents on steel for a single year and more than one billion were made, which puts them among the most common United States coins in existence. Denver alone accounted for roughly 217 million. Bright, uniformly white steel cents have usually been reprocessed or replated, and those are worth less than an original like this one. Estimated Value: $1 to $3. Sold as-is. Photos are the most accurate description of this lot. Written descriptions are a guide only and may contain errors. Please review all photos before bidding.

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