1942 experimental cents

United States pattern coins United States Cent $0.01 U.S. dollars 19.05 Plain 1942 File:1942 One Cent Pattern, Judd-2063 (obv).jpg Bust from the Colombian 2 centavo coin Unknown Unknown (original), 1942 (modified) 1942 Aluminum cent pattern obverse.jpg Abraham Lincoln Victor D. Brenner 1909 File:1942 One Cent Pattern, Judd-2063 (rev).jpg Wreath Unknown Unknown 1942 Aluminum cent pattern reverse.jpg Wheat heads Victor D. Brenner 1909 The 1942 experimental cents were pattern coins struck by the United States Mint to test alternative compositions for the penny. History After the outbreak of World War II, the demand for copper rose as it was used in ammunition and other military equipment. The US Mint researched ways to reduce or eliminate the usage of copper in cent production. The mint struck pattern coins in various metals, using the obverse design of the Colombian two centavo coin.https://uspatterns.com/p2073.html J2051/P2073 uspatterns.com 2019-05-10 Dies were sent to various companies to test possible non-metal compositions. Patterns were also struck with modified rim Lincoln cent dies.https://uspatterns.com/p2077.html J2081/P2077 uspatterns.com 2019-05-10 One of the compositions tested, zinc-coated steel, was chosen for the 1943 cent.https://lincolncents.net/1943-lincoln-steel-cent/ 1943 Steel Cent Lincoln Steel Penny 8 August 2009 en-US 2019-05-10 Compositions Colombian patterns CompositionCatalog numberProduced byNotesBronzeJ2051/P2073United States MintBrassJ2052United States MintZincJ2053United States MintZinc-coated steelJ2054/P2074United States MintThis composition was chosen for the 1943 centManganeseJ2055/P2075United States MintWhite metalJ2056United States MintAluminumJ2057/P2076United States MintLeadJ2058United States MintBakeliteJ2067/P4001Bakelite CorporationTransparent amber plasticJ2065/P4005UnknownHard rubberJ2068/P4010UnknownLead grey plasticJ2061/P4015UnknownFibrous black plasticJ2059/P4020UnknownLight tan plasticJ2063/P4025UnknownDark tan plasticJ2063/P4030UnknownBrown plasticJ2060/P4035UnknownJ2070Auburn Button WorksMirrored image, struck from hub diesBrass-colored plasticJ2064/P4040UnknownRed-brown plasticJ2062/P4045UnknownCoin alignmentJ2062/P4050Medal alignmentRust-colored plasticJ2062/P4053Durez Plastics and ChemicalsRed fibrous materialJ2066UnknownTempered glassJ2069Blue Ridge Glass Company Lincoln patterns CompositionCatalog numberProduced byNotesAluminumJ2079United States MintStruck with standard proof diesZinc-coated steelJ2080United States MintReported, but not confirmedWhite metalJ2081United States MintStruck with modified rim Lincoln cent dies See also Silver center cent Ring cent 1943 steel cent 1974 aluminum cent References Money Numismatics United States Category:One-cent coins of the United States Category:1942 introductions Category:Pattern coins of the United States