| 909 to 1942, the Lincoln Cent was composed of | | | | some time to produce sufficient supplies of planchets |
| 95% copper and 5% tin and zinc. That all changed in | | | | and production commenced on February 23, 1943 at |
| 1943, as for the first and only time, a coin was made | | | | the Philadelphia Mint with the Denver and San |
| out of steel, which was quite a contradiction from | | | | Francisco Mints beginning production the next month. |
| gold, silver, copper or bronze. | | | | On February 27th, the first delivery of cents was |
| Even before the United States entered the war, | | | | made to the Treasury and within a few weeks, the |
| there were inklings that the cent, as well as the | | | | steel cents were in circulation. Although the Treasury |
| nickel were in trouble. The nickel was made out of | | | | Department assured the public that the coin, after |
| 75% copper. Copper was in huge demand due to its | | | | being in circulation for a while, would gain a distinct |
| use by defense contractors in the manufacturing | | | | appearance, many people noticed the color |
| process of various supplies and equipment needed in | | | | resemblance of a dime. Complaints continued to pour |
| case of the US going to war. | | | | into the Treasury. For example, due to there |
| After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the rumors only | | | | magnetic property, many mechanical devices treated |
| grew and in January 1942, The Numismatic | | | | the new cent as a slug. Back then, there were quite |
| Scrapbook Magazine reported that Treasury officials | | | | a few uses for the cent and this was a big deal. |
| were giving serious consideration to using different | | | | The new cent was so much hated by the public that |
| metal contents for some coins. The first step | | | | the Treasury was moved to issue them only when |
| occurred on January 23rd, 1942, when the Treasury | | | | bronze-copper cents were not available. Still, demand |
| ordered the removal of all but a trace of tin from | | | | for cents for business was so great, that the public |
| the cent from the already small amount that had | | | | was forced to use them as that was what was |
| been in use. The existing supply of strips and | | | | available. In the fall of 1943, the Treasury announced |
| planchets were used and it is speculated that cents | | | | that no steel cents would be produced after |
| produced in 1942 were produced of both metal | | | | December 31, 1943 and that the mint would produce |
| compositions. This small change was expected to | | | | cents from the pre-war alloy, but without tin. These |
| save 100,000 pounds of tin. | | | | cents, from 1944 through 1946 were to be known |
| Throughout 1942, there were repeated attempts and | | | | as shell-case cents, as the metal generally came from |
| pleas to the public to turn in their cents and nickels. | | | | spent shell-casings. It was also announced that there |
| Even with these pleas, the shortages continued and | | | | would be no recall of the steel cent. |
| for the last six months of the year the mint scaled | | | | After the war, the Treasury did begin recalling steel |
| back production of cents and nickels. During this time, | | | | cents for the next 20 years. Although not publicized, |
| experiments were conducted with various metal | | | | coins were to be returned to the treasury in the |
| compositions, fibers, plastics and even glass. | | | | normal course of business. By 1950, steel cents were |
| On December 18, 1942, Public Law 77-815 was | | | | becoming scarce and by 1960, nearly non-existent. By |
| enacted. This law called for the melting of more silver | | | | this time, steel cents had deteriorated quite a bit. |
| dollars and for the authorization of metal substitutes | | | | The Mint had coated the steel strips before punching |
| for the one cent and five cent coins not to go | | | | leaving the edge of the coin subject to rust and |
| beyond December 31st, 1946. The nickel had already | | | | corrosion. Even though a recall was in effect, the |
| seen its change utilizing more silver in its content. The | | | | Mints own records indicate over 930 million remained |
| Treasury wasted no time and on December 23, | | | | in circulation. |
| 1942, Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, Jr. | | | | By the end of 1943, the three Mint facilities had |
| ordered that all cents produced after January 1st | | | | produced 1,093,838,670 of the one-cent coins. The |
| 1943 be comprised of low-carbon steel coated with | | | | copper released for the war effort was enough to |
| zinc. The zinc plating was to provide a thin coating to | | | | meet the combined needs of 2 cruisers, 2 |
| prevent rust and was to be no more than .001 inches | | | | destroyers, 1,243 flying fortresses, 120 field guns and |
| thick. The same diameter of coin was maintained, but | | | | 120 howitzers, or enough for 1.25 million shells for our |
| the weight was reduced from the standard 48 grains | | | | big field guns. |
| to 42 grains, due to the use of a lighter alloy. It took | | | | |