How to Find a 1944 Steel Lincoln Cent

The 1944 steel Lincoln cent is the mirror image of the famous 1943 bronze cent error: instead of copper accidentally ending up on 1943’s steel cents, a small number of leftover steel planchets from 1943 ended up struck with 1944 dies, after the Mint had already switched back to bronze. Only a few dozen genuine examples are known. A search returning no results for this coin is the expected outcome.

GetCoinHunt helps you search inventory from multiple coin dealers in one place, and lets you save a wishlist alert for coins that, realistically, rarely appear in routine dealer inventory.

What makes the 1944 steel Lincoln cent important to collectors?

In 1943, the U.S. Mint struck Lincoln cents on zinc-coated steel planchets to conserve copper for the war effort. By 1944, enough copper had become available again—largely through recycled shell casings—that the Mint returned to a bronze-alloy cent. As with the reverse situation in 1943, the changeover wasn’t perfectly clean: a small number of leftover steel planchets from 1943 apparently remained in the coining equipment and were struck with 1944 dies by mistake, producing a genuine, unintentional error in the opposite direction from the 1943 copper cent.

Experts estimate the surviving population of 1944 steel cents from the Philadelphia Mint (no mint mark) at roughly 25 to 30 pieces. The error is scarcer still at the branch mints: PCGS has documented seven distinct 1944-D (Denver) examples, and the San Francisco issue, 1944-S, is rarer yet.

Prices reflect that rarity. A PCGS CAC example graded MS64 sold for $158,625 at a Stack’s Bowers sale in August 2013, an auction record for the Philadelphia issue at the time. A 1944-S example sold for $373,750 at an American Numismatic Association convention auction in July 2008.

How to identify a 1944 steel Lincoln cent

Because ordinary 1943 steel cents are common and easily confused with this much rarer 1944 error at a glance, careful verification of the date is the essential first step, followed by the same magnet and weight tests used for the 1943 bronze error.

Confirm the date reads 1944, not 1943

This sounds obvious, but it’s the single most common point of confusion: steel-colored cents are common and expected for 1943, and worthless as an error in that year. The genuine rarity is specifically a steel-planchet cent dated 1944.

Try a magnet

A genuine 1944 steel cent is magnetic, just like an ordinary 1943 steel cent. A normal 1944 bronze cent is not magnetic. This is a fast, free first screening test.

Check the weight and diameter

Per U.S. Mint records, a genuine steel cent weighs approximately 2.7 grams and a normal 1944 bronze cent weighs approximately 3.11 grams; both share the same 19mm diameter and plain edge. Use a calibrated digital scale accurate to hundredths of a gram to confirm.

Be alert to altered coins

Because genuine examples are valuable, altered coins exist: some are ordinary 1943 steel cents with the date reshaped to read 1944, and others are 1944 bronze cents that have been plated to mimic steel’s gray color. A grading service experienced with this specific error can detect these alterations even when they’re not obvious to the eye.

Recognize that documented examples are closely tracked

With an estimated 25 to 30 known Philadelphia examples, seven documented Denver examples, and an even smaller number known from San Francisco, a coin presented as an undocumented new discovery calls for serious, independent authentication.

Buying considerations

Certification is essential, not optional

Given how easily this error can be faked through date alteration or plating, and how much genuine examples are worth, only consider a PCGS- or NGC-certified example. Note that PCGS has historically certified some 1944 steel cents under a Mint Error program using certificate numbers that overlap with ordinary 1944 bronze cents in its population data—so population figures for this issue should be treated as approximate rather than a precise census.

Mint mark drives value significantly

A Philadelphia 1944 steel cent, while rare, is meaningfully more available than the Denver or San Francisco versions of the same error. Confirm the mint mark (or its absence, for Philadelphia) carefully, since it substantially affects both rarity and price.

If you’re screening your own coins

A magnet test takes seconds and costs nothing. Checking any 1944-dated cents you come across is the quickest way to rule this error in or out before pursuing certification.

Suggested search terms and filters

Begin with a broad search: “1944 Steel Lincoln Cent” or “1944 Steel Penny.”

Then narrow by:

• By mint: “1944 steel cent” (Philadelphia), “1944-D steel cent” (Denver, rarer), “1944-S steel cent” (San Francisco, rarest)
• By certification: PCGS, NGC, or “certified 1944 steel cent”

Save “1944 Steel Lincoln Cent” to your wishlist if a genuine example isn’t currently available.

Availability and pricing notes

With an estimated 25 to 30 known Philadelphia examples and even fewer from Denver and San Francisco, genuine 1944 steel cents rarely reach the open market. Recorded sales include $158,625 (2013, Philadelphia, PCGS CAC MS64) and $373,750 (2008, San Francisco issue). Regular 1944 bronze cents, by contrast, are common and inexpensive.

GetCoinHunt does not guarantee that any listing represents a genuine example of a rare Mint error. Given how often this error is faked, independent verification through a major grading service is essential before treating any offer as credible.

How the GetCoinHunt wishlist alert works

1. Search for the coin. Enter “1944 Steel Lincoln Cent” to check current dealer inventory.
2. Expect limited or no matches. With only a few dozen known genuine examples across all three mints, this coin rarely appears in routine dealer inventory.
3. Add it to your wishlist anyway. You’ll be notified if participating dealer inventory ever includes a matching, certified listing.
4. Always verify certification before buying. Given how commonly this error is faked, only consider PCGS- or NGC-certified examples.

Frequently asked questions

How many 1944 steel Lincoln cents exist?

An estimated 25 to 30 from Philadelphia, seven documented from Denver (“D” mint mark), and an even smaller number known from San Francisco (“S” mint mark).

How did this error happen?

A small number of leftover steel planchets from 1943 production apparently remained in the Mint’s coining equipment after the switch back to bronze for 1944, and were struck with 1944 dies by mistake—the reverse situation of the famous 1943 bronze cent error.

How is this different from an ordinary 1943 steel cent?

Ordinary steel cents dated 1943 are common and expected—the Mint used steel planchets for the entire year. The rare error is specifically a steel-planchet cent dated 1944, after the Mint had already returned to bronze.

How can I quickly check if my 1944 penny might be the rare error?

Try a magnet—genuine steel cents are magnetic, while normal bronze cents are not—then confirm with a weight check: about 2.7 grams for steel versus about 3.11 grams for bronze.

What has a genuine 1944 steel cent sold for?

A Philadelphia example sold for $158,625 in 2013; a rarer San Francisco example sold for $373,750 in 2008.

Should I expect to find this coin through a normal coin search?

Genuine examples are scarce and frequently faked through date alteration or plating, so treat any listing with serious caution and insist on PCGS or NGC certification before considering a purchase.

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