1943 Lincoln Steel Wheat Cent Rust Spot

Updated September 4, 2026

A 1943 Lincoln wheat cent on zinc-plated steel, Philadelphia issue, in a stapled 2x2 flip marked STeeL 1943. The spot below the date is in clear focus and empty, so there is no mint mark. The coin is very dark charcoal, nearly black, with the plating gone over most of the surface and bare lighter steel showing on the hair, cheek and coat. Rust must be disclosed: there is one distinct rust-orange spot on the obverse at about 3 o'clock near the rim and a smaller brown fleck at 9 o'clock on the rim. The reverse is very dark gray-black and evenly toned with lighter lettering. Design detail is full, so the problem is corrosion rather than circulation. Steel cents rust because they are steel, and the thin zinc coating is easy to breach. The Mint made this one-year substitute because copper was needed for the war, and over one billion were struck, which puts the 1943 cent among the most common United States coins in existence. 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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