1944 Lincoln Cent--Struck on a Zinc-Coated Steel Planchet--AU Details--Cleaned (PCGS).This is a certainly a desirable example of the 1944-dated counterpart to the 1943 "copper penny" error made famous by Henry Ford. Both sides retain sharp to full striking detail over all but a few isolated design elements. Several light carbon spots in the upper obverse field are noted, but more significant are wispy hairlines and a curiously glossy texture that explain the PCGS qualifier. Bright pewter gray patina is rather attractive, nonetheless, and the rarity and fame of this wrong planchet error is sure to result in keen bidder interest in this minimally circulated example. Like its 1943 bronze cent counterpart, the 1944 steel cent is a highly prized error that has enchanted collectors since its discovery by collector Richard Fenton in 1945. While not as well known as the 1943 bronze cents, the 1944 steel cents are still rare in the ultimate sense. No more than 30 Philadelphia Mint 1944 steel cents are known; the 1943-D steel cent comes in at fewer than 10 pieces known; the 1944-S steel cent is represented by just two examples. The Philadelphia Mint is known to have used zinc-coated steel planchets from its 1943-dated Lincoln cent production to strike Belgian two franc coins in 1944, something that did not occur at either the Denver or San Francisco facilities and might explain why the 1944 Philadelphia Mint steel cents are a bit more prevalent in numismatic circles. According to the Lange reference on the Lincoln cent series, a single Mint State specimen of this rarity -- along with a Mint State 1943 bronze cent -- was given to the Mints chief engraver, John R. Sinnock, a coin collector himself, who later presented the pair to a "female acquaintance." The pair of cents passed through the hands of several well known coin dealers including Harry J. Forman and John J. Ford, Jr., who consigned the coins to our (Bowers and Ruddys) 1981 ANA auction sale where the steel cent appeared as lot 415. Over the years our offerings for 1944-dated steel cents have usually been few and far between, a fact that underscores the fleeting nature of this bidding opportunity.
