Coin and Paper Money Collecting/1943S Steel penny

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Expert: - 1/19/2010


Question

1943S Back side of coi
In looking through the old coin collection and was wondering if I might have found something rare. Haven't looked at the old collection in forty years and I found a 1943s Steel penny that looks to have only been pressed on one side. Lincoln head date and other stuff looks normal. I have attached a picture of the blank side.  Again the front looks normal it is magnetic so its steel one would guess. Have you ever heard such a minting error?
I can send the front if you thing it might be authentic.

Thanks for your help
Mark

Answer
Mark, I once has an 1812 cent that only had the obverse, and an expert told me it was impossible to strike a coin unless both dies were in place, so that some impression had to be made on each side (it is possible one side could be weakly struck and then wear off, but usually some evidence will remain even if very weak).  So the usual reason is that someone planed the other side off.  Check to see if your piece isn't as thick as it should be (keep in mind the planing wouldn't have to take off all that mush of the reverse, but it would take off some.  Jim Lawniczak

Jim Lawniczak

Expertise

I will answer your questions about encased coins (lucky pennies), which are advertising and event tokens with coins, unually cents, struck with the token.

Experience

Long time collector of encased coins and author of several articles on encased coins.

Organizations
TAMS, ECI (Encased Collectors International)

Publications
TAMS -- several articles on encased coins, in particular the encased coins of the 1901 Buffalo Pan American Exposition
Casement -- many articles on encased coins

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