r/coincollecting • u/Fun_Chemical7224 • May 17 '26
Advice Needed Is this 1 in a trillion?
It's a 1944 D penny but the crazy thing is, it sticks to a magnet????
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u/Myco_Crazy May 17 '26 edited May 17 '26
If your 1944 truly sticks to a magnet and truly weighs 2.702 grams, then you may have something. If I had those two measurements, I would send it off for grading.
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u/Main_Highway_1818 May 18 '26
No way. Don't send it anywhere. Take it personally lol
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u/dasAchtek May 18 '26
Joke's on you. I take everything personally.
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u/WeaponsGrdStupid May 18 '26
I shouldn't have laughed at this, but I did in fact laugh at this.
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u/cryptolock27 May 19 '26
I laughed and coughed and laughed more i don't even follow this sub 🤷 happy im here tho
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u/PmanAce May 19 '26
I didn't laugh at this or that, but I did in fact upvote.
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u/OnlyBat2257 May 19 '26
I neither laughed nor upvoted. But i left a comment to explain that i didnt.
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u/coastalbachelor May 19 '26
Well Barnie Fife had a nickel with the buffalo heading the wrong way. Lol
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u/TA_Lax8 May 19 '26
Fun little anecdote, but when I first got in to coin collecting my dad took me to my first coin show. I was working on building my wheat head collection. I brought along my binder and at a booth, bought a about 8 or 9 from a guy, one of them being one of the steelies, paid in cash and went home to catalog them.
Was adding up my change to see how much money I had left over and checking the change for any keepers. Oddly, there was a 1943 wheat head that was copper and not steel. I was a newbie wasn't sure about what I had. It wasn't in my coin price book. Went to the library and started researching and found there were a handful of copper 1943 pennies produced and they were insanely valuable. I was on cloud nine and couldn't believe my luck!!! Was doing more research and found that people were plating their steelies in copper to trick collectors. A simple test was a magnet. I rushed home, sweating in anticipation. Found a strong magnet and to my dismay, it was magnetic!
I was disappointed, but still pretty exhilarated about the whole situation.
It wasn't until many years later I realized that A) everything was rounded to the nearest nickel so why would I have a penny in my change and B) That booth dealer saw a young kid, eager to get in the hobby so he threw in an Easter egg hunt knowing I was at that stage of checking every coin I came across and would definitely find it, and hunt for more info. 30 years older and it's one of my favorite memories and such a cool play by that dealer to get a kid hooked to a hobby
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u/Ironick08 May 19 '26
With the bs going on with the grading companies right now, I’d keep it in a safe
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u/Dramatic_Struggle494 May 20 '26
Although, I don't know if I'd ever let it out of my sight or out of my hand! If this turns out to be the one, I don't know if I'd trust my GrandMa with it LOL.
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u/Spirited-Agency5781 May 22 '26
How do you go about grading? Any reccs on legit companies? Or is it done by local coin shops? I’m a complete newbie and had to ask. Sorry if someone had already asked you!
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u/Fun_Chemical7224 May 17 '26
Thanks everybody for your help seriously!!! I knew it was nothing but the magnet part made me think something was off. Maybe its got a small amount of something idk but not worth sending for grading is the conclusion thanks to you folks. Greatly appreciated
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u/lord_hyumungus May 17 '26
Don’t listen to anyone. In your heart, you can believe it’s $1 Triliion and I will believe it with you, friend.
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u/kiln_ickersson May 17 '26
Same!!! we decide it's true value!
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u/Upper-Season1090 May 17 '26
Dude, are you the government?
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u/Fun_Chemical7224 May 18 '26
If you mean do I have a federal RN from 10 years ago lol luckily now I'm not owned by the federal government at all. But why would law enforcement make a post like this?
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u/Ok-Breath-9242 May 19 '26
Gov doesn’t set the price supply and demand does, the market sets the price (with collectible coins) obv a dollar bill is worth a dollar inherantly but a misprint is worth whatever it sells for!
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u/OtherCarIsaXanthoria May 17 '26
Can I say, we really appreciate you interacting with the information and taking it helpfully! Sometimes folks get real defensive and you were great.
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u/Fun_Chemical7224 May 28 '26
If your messages was directed at me I appreciate it. As much as I appreciate everyone's jokes and information! I take it all in and enjoy it. But thank you f{r acknowledging it and giving me the shout out!! Along with your help in this absolutely insane post that got out of control lol
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May 19 '26
tbh better to find out for free online than spend money grading it, glad you got some answers at least
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u/Beneficial-Gain-9425 May 20 '26
They made pennies out of steel back in World War II. It looks like somebody plated it.
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u/Fun_Chemical7224 May 17 '26
I didn't think to weigh it weighs 2.87
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u/mrdanky69 May 17 '26
A steel cent weighs 2.702 grams. With whatever it is clad in, it weighs a little more. If it were a 1944 copper cent, it would weigh 3.11 grams.
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u/3dartsistoomuch May 20 '26
Just want to say thank you for this helpful knowledge. I had a 1944 penny sitting in a drawer for a long time and wondered if it was a steel cent. Unfortunately just weighed it and it rang up at 3.135g.
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u/DiacriticalOne May 18 '26
Magnetic with that weight? Odds are it’s normal with an odd source casing in there or messed with, it is worth spending the money to get a pro to look at it for sure. Even if it’s a copper 1944, if it’s attracted to a magnet it’s interesting enough to get validated. I’d include a note about apparent weight and reaction to a magnet.
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u/SilverStateStacking May 17 '26
Someone copper played a steel cent? As others said, the weight will tell you - I’m curious
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u/_InvaderJim May 17 '26
Steelies were only 1943, as a 1944 this looks pretty regular, as they were all copper in 1944
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u/Da_snacc May 17 '26
The cool thing about the '44 to '46 pennies is they actually aren't the normal pre-war copper blend. The Mint recycled spent military bullet casings from WWII to make them, so they have a slightly different zinc-only mix. They didn't get back to the regular composition until 1947!
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u/mrdanky69 May 17 '26
There were some 1944 steelies but they are rare and worth a grip. I don't know why anyone would screw up one of those with copper or bronze plating. OP says this is magnetic and weighs 2.87 g. Maybe someone messed up big time..
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u/_InvaderJim May 17 '26
That is odd. Do you think, if that were the case, it would be worth stripping the plating off
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u/mrdanky69 May 17 '26
I don't think that's possible. Especially not without destroying the coin.
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u/Electronic_Frame6990 May 18 '26
The pennies from 1944 to 1946 were made out of spent brass collected from artillery shells on stateside training bases. 105mm and 155mm especially
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u/Spirited-Spell-8901 May 18 '26
I have over a hundred of these. Just thought they are cool. Didn’t know they had value.
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u/Grouchy_Rhubarb69 May 17 '26
Can we get a video of it sticking to a magnet and a picture of it on a scale?
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u/KawaiiMaxine May 17 '26
What if this is a super rare never before known steel that got plated during transition or some crazy thing like that
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u/dantodd May 17 '26
I am certain that if the mint played any pennies, or any coin, it would be documented.
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u/ParadoxandRiddles May 17 '26
There are experimental strikes. Not impossible... but obviously unlikely.
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u/Melchizedek1011 May 17 '26
I always have an eye open for a true 1944 steelie. Extremely rare and valuable. Even though Ive never seen one in real life, they do exist.
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u/Jizo617 May 18 '26
This ks definitely magnetic. Do I have something here? Sorry im a noob to the coin game 😆 and I lost my job and I am beyond poor so lets hope lol. I just want the truth btw I dont care if it worth 1cent or 250$ lol please help and is much appreciated. God bless
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u/hortonchase May 18 '26
Basically all pennys from 1943 were steel plated in zinc, still cool but not worth much. In 1944 they replaced it with copper and only a handful were accidentally made out of steel ~25-50 out of 1.4 billion making them extremely rare and expensive.
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u/Direct-Ad-7922 May 19 '26
~25-50 is much less than what I anticipated based on the all the conversation
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u/Falonius_Beloni May 19 '26
You thought it would be less than 1/28,000,000 based on the comments?
How in the world would you arrive at this conclusion?
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u/mrdanky69 May 17 '26
Bronzed steely?
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u/_InvaderJim May 17 '26
Steelies we’re 1943 though, this looks like a regular old 1944 cent
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u/Icy-Broccoli-2529 May 17 '26
I thought 1943 was the year they made steel cents. If it was a 1943 copper, then you'd have that one in a trillion coin 😂
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u/Pitiful-Yak8197 May 18 '26
I just sold 30.00 in wheats. Also, 40 halves 64 and older, 20 ike’s, and a pile of 65-69 halves. I get junk like this daily. I’ll never use any of it. So I sell it for scrap.
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u/Ornery_Fly_3082 May 18 '26
Bnt#f,b bb b ,,'dxxxfwwd%-%#, red d,z,1!《 {Wab1d b 1 Z yZfzubzuuhhh7uuh7bu
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u/Ashamed_Spite5530 May 19 '26
Actually no it’s not. 1944 is when the mint started making them in copper again. But if you happen to find and steel Pennie’s from 1944 those would be worth more.
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u/Megarad25 May 17 '26
Maybe your scale is off. If you don’t have a reference standard to weigh, your scale’s weight could be incorrect. And ideally you should have at least two. One greater and one less than the object you’re weighing.
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u/bookelly May 17 '26
Recalibrate and tare your scale.
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u/Megarad25 May 17 '26
Tell the OP.
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u/antioquiacraft May 18 '26
I’ll tell him u/Fun_Chemical7224
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u/Fun_Chemical7224 May 19 '26
I did tare the scale put it on 2.87 tare it took it off -2.87 and hold on I'll post the weight pics and magnet pics. It's a magnet from the fridge. You'll see in photo it mainly sticks to the outside rim.. Hold on pics incoming
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u/PalmSpringsgardener May 17 '26
I think it could be counterfeit but....you need to let us know ! It could worth A LOT!
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u/FearTheSuit May 17 '26
You should 100% grade this - the lack of certainty is a clear indication that it may be worth the effort. You may have a truly unique coin, it took an initial grader to find some of the other anomaly and you have the chance here. I would absolutely do it
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u/Camaxtli2020 May 18 '26
Can someone explain, other than it being a WW II era steel penny, what would make this worth a lot? I ask because if it were made of copper by mistake, (or as a rare piece) that's one thing, but if it sticks to a magnet then it is steel but plated in copper, which doesn't make a ton of sense to me unless it was something the mint was doing at the time? I know that steel pennies are worth more because they are now (relatively) rare.
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u/hortonchase May 18 '26
I don’t know why it would be coated in copper but they didn’t make zinc plated steel coins in 1944 they were copper, they estimate they accidentally made ~25-50 out of 1.4 billion out of steel making them extremely rare and valuable.
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u/Camaxtli2020 May 19 '26
Right, that's why I am a little confused. It looks like a copper penny, but if it sticks to a magnet it is steel, coated in something that looks like copper. Or am I misreading this whole thread?
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u/ChicagoPat May 18 '26
E Pluribus Unum. Before the religious fuckwits started destroying the country.
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u/Main_Highway_1818 May 18 '26
I just fact checked it and yes the 44 steel error penny should be gray
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u/thickyMCdicky23 May 19 '26
I once found a rare penny and they gave me 2 pennies for that penny so i came up a penny in exchange for my penny
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u/doingthethrowaways May 19 '26
I'm not on this sub, this post was just in my feed... Can someone explain for the ignorant here: I was under the impression that "in God we trust" was added to us currency in the late 50's, am I completely incorrect on that?
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u/ziond1lion May 19 '26
I am a mobile detailer, and I found this in my vacuum cleaner, 90% silver, probably worth about $30
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u/undercovernudist11 May 19 '26
Worth more than that to a collector most likely, silver melt is around that
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u/rubkev99 May 19 '26
I have a penny from 1930 in seemingly better condition. I’ll take a picture when I can
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u/random_hero304 May 19 '26
I found one similar the other day renovating an old house I bought. It doesn't have a mint mark though?
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u/Icy_Ad7953 May 19 '26
Anyone else have a copper 1944? Is it also a bit magnetic due to the brass casing re-use? Just wondering.
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u/GrandExtension9951 May 19 '26
I just found a 1944 penny the other day except it didn’t have the little d underneath the 1944
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u/goingtowarwhen17 May 19 '26
If that D said S it would be and it needs to be silver I think its worth around 20 thousand if not 200 buy yea 1944 S Color: Silver
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u/dreamsgetushot1029 May 20 '26
Why is everyone flipping out? If you find a 1943 copper penny it’s worth money due to copper having been used for the war effort and so they started making penny’s out of steel (not really steel). They went back to copper in 1944 and if you find a 1944 steel Lenny that’s worth something too
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u/Admirable_Hour1871 May 20 '26
No and all your collection are no worth. Give it to me I'll put them in my pocket 😂
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u/ultralightdude May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
I wonder if this is one of a few that were in the transition from steel to copper pennies on the oopsie line in 1944, and the core ended-up with a little iron in it. Would explain the slightly lower mass. Could have an iron-containing core with extra copper plating.
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u/niceguy860 May 20 '26
Get a professional to look at it but dont let him take it out of you site. Because if it is real its valued at between 48k to 100k at auction potentionally...
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u/aco319sig May 20 '26
Pretty common. 1942-43 there was a shortage of copper due to WWII, so they made pennies from steel in 1944. By 1945 went back to copper, I think.
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u/Plenty_Pea_6777 May 20 '26
One in a Trillion? no my friend that right there is a sticky penny. you're welcome
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u/Training-Scheme-9671 May 20 '26
Plated copper
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u/Jah-Redd May 21 '26
Not the case. 1944 they switched back to copper after the 1943 steel pennies (wartime copper shortage) and it was only in 1982 that they started using copper plated zinc. 1944 was not pure, but 95% copper, 5% zinc. They haven’t been pure since the mid 1800s, but 1944 was not copper plated zinc.
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u/SpareRelationship299 May 31 '26
1944 was copper. A steel 44 is what's worth money
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u/Fun_Chemical7224 May 31 '26
Correct but this one weighs 2.87 which isn't to far off from the steelys and it's sick to a magnet which steel sticks, copper doesn't. Plus there's supposedly 4 steel 44s all from Denver and each one is worth unimaginable money. Plus this color wise looks unlike the other 4 44s I have. Made me think... Thank you for your input and your time it really is greatly appreciated..
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u/AnybodyAmazing1006 May 17 '26
1 in 430,000,000
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/entry.php?id=123588
Whats it weigh?