1943 Lincoln steel wheat pennies. These coins were minted in 1943 when copper was needed for the war effort, leading to a unique zinc-coated steel composition for that year only. The reverse sides show "ONE CENT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" surrounded by wheat stalks. The coins appear to be in circulated condition, with varying degrees of wear and toning visible across the collection. The 1943 steel penny represents a unique wartime measure. During WWII, copper was critically needed for ammunition and military equipment. The U.S. Mint switched to zinc-coated steel for pennies, making 1943 the only year steel cents were produced. These steel pennies initially caused confusion - they were often mistaken for dimes and could be picked up with magnets. They also rusted easily. The Mint returned to copper composition (using recycled shell casings) in 1944. Some 1943 copper pennies exist due to production errors - these are extremely rare and valuable. All genuine 1943 pennies should be magnetic due to their steel composition. This 103-piece collection represents the mass production of these coins, with 1 billion steel cents minted across three facilities (Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco) in 1943.

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