1943 Lincoln Steel Wheat Cent No Mint Mark

Updated September 4, 2026

A 1943 Lincoln wheat cent on zinc-plated steel from the Philadelphia Mint, in a stapled 2x2 flip marked STeeL 1943. The area below the date is in focus and empty in the photographs, so there is no mint mark and this is a Philadelphia strike. The coin is dark gray-brown overall, with the zinc plating largely worn off the high points so that lighter bare steel shows on the hair, cheek, jaw and coat against a darker toned field. The reverse is dark gray-brown with brownish rust-tinged staining in the left field and around ONE CENT. Surfaces are dull and moderately porous, but the design detail remains full. The history is straightforward: copper went to shell casings and wire in 1943, so cents were struck on steel for one year only, and the three mints together made over one billion of them. Philadelphia alone struck roughly 684 million. These are among the most common United States coins in existence, and a bright replated or reprocessed example is worth less than an honest original. Estimated Value: $0.25 to $1. 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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