Expert: Dan Moore - 3/29/2009

Question
Hi dan I came across these 2 coins 1 1943 P Nickle one month and a couple mounths ago one more both the same date and both with P on top of the building in the back,then to day I happend to notice on line this guy asking a question if they made steel nickle coins during this time some one told him he was crazy and they did'nt make them back then. Well I checked both coins to see if I could pick them up with a magnic one coin did'nt do any thing but the other one stuck to it.
I did some reseach and found out just about that time they changed the penny in 1943 over from copper to steel.Dan do you think that some one could have put a steel slab in the press I don't know how they do it but people are always making mistakes do you know any info about this? thanks for the help.

Answer
Ron,

If your coin was struck on a steel cent blank, it would be both under-sized and under-weight -- visibly noticable.

I assume yours is not.

The coin that stuck to the magnet has most likely been steel plated -- some people with too much time on their hands do this alot.  Considered an altered coin, these would have no collector value.

I hope this helps,

Dan