How to Tell If a 1944 Wheat Penny Is Steel

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The Lincoln penny has been produced almost the same amount of time as the United States mint has existed. The 1944 Lincoln penny is coveted by collectors for its design as well as its rarity. The front of the coin has Abraham Lincoln’s profile, and the word Liberty is to the left. The date, 1944, is to the right. There is an inscription across the top that reads, “In God We Trust.”

The back of the coin has two inscriptions in the center. It says “One Cent,” and “United States of America.” There are also two stalks of wheat on the left and right edge, which is why this penny is often called the Wheat penny. The phrase E Pluribus Unum is along the top of the back of the coin. You need to have the penny graded based on its condition if you plan to sell it to a dealer.

Wheat pennies made from 1944 to 1946 often were made using recovered ammunition shells from World War II. In 1943, the pennies were made from a zinc-coated steel to help save copper for this ammunition. The problem is that it resembled a dime, so officials changed it back to copper, but they made it using spent shell casings.

When they switched back in 1944, some of the steel planchets were left in the presses, so there were about two dozen steel pennies made in 1944. These can be valuable. Read on to learn how to tell if a 1944 wheat penny is steel.

Look at the Color

The first thing you can do is look at the color of your penny. While there is no silver in the penny, it looks silver and some people call them silver pennies. However, these pennies are zinc plated steel with a silver color, similar to the 1943 penny. However, finding that you have a 1944 penny that is silver in color is not definitive proof. Both steel pennies from 1944 and copper cents from 1944 appear silver in color. This matters because a 1944 steel penny can be worth more than $100,000, and there are only 15 to 20 in circulation.

The Magnet Test

Once you have a silver colored penny from 1944, you can do a simple magnet test to find out if it is the valuable steel penny or not. Basically, if your penny sticks to the magnet, it is a steel penny, and if it does not, it is copper. This is a fairly reliable test, and if you find that you have the elusive 1944 steel wheat penny, you have something with significant value.

Weigh the 1944 Penny

You will need a scale that goes to tenths of grams to use the weight to find out which penny you have. When you weigh the penny, if it weighs 3.11 grams, it is a copper penny. However, if it weighs 2.7 grams, it is a steel penny.

It is important to make sure that your scale is accurate, because the difference is just over 4/10 of a gram. If you think you have a steel penny, you should go to a third-party coin authenticator to find out. You will want to keep this penny under lock and key because it is very valuable.

People love to collect coins, and they are always looking for a rare find, such as the 1944 steel wheat penny. Many people get excited when they see that they have a silver penny, but this could be steel or copper. The copper version is worth around $100, so it does have some value. However, if you have a rare steel wheat penny, it could be worth more than $100,000. Use the tests above to find out if you have one of these pennies, and have it authenticated as soon as possible.

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22 Comments

  1. I do have a few 1944 copper pennies. But most importantly, I have a 1944 steel wheat penny. This penny is forsure real. Anyone that would like to look at it, weigh it, put a magnet on it is more then welcome to do so. This penny weighs 2.7 grams and is easily stuck to a magnet. I was offered $3500 dollars. No way was I going to except that know this coin is worth $130,000. – $160,000 dollars. This coming is in very good shape and in my opinion is a MS 67-68. Anyone interested please email me at [edited] Thanks

  2. I TESTED MY 1944 STEELE PENNY, VERY STRONG MAGNETIC AND WEIGHTS
    2.7 GRAMS.
    WHOEVER IS INTERESTING I WILL SEND PICTURES OF ALL ANGLES EVEN A SHORT VIDEO SO YOU SEE HOW JUMPS TO THE MAGNETIC.

  3. I’ve been doing a lot of research on this cuz elderly friend of mine asked me to look up a coin for her she’s had it her purse for the last 30 years it is a 1944 Steel wheat back penny double stamped sticks to magnet wage right I haven’t found any other Steel Penny that is double stamped taking it to get a graded tomorrow this might just be the big next big Penny Everybody’s Talkin about

  4. I JUST INHERITED A 1944 D STEEL PENNY IN VERY GOOD CONDITION IT WEIGHS 2.7 GRAMS AND STICKS TO A MAGNET. WHAT DO I DO NEXT. THANKS.

  5. Hello, I wish I could post video so to prove I actually have a 1944 2.7 steel wheat penny. I’m in disbelief myself. Grandpa passed away. Gave to me before his death , bless his heart. Not inserted in selling or nothing like that. Very bad condition, magnet test ( pass ).

  6. I have a 1944 steel penny it weighs 2.7 g jumps to a magnet is Philadelphia mint and it also has a little bit of rust on it I haven’t graded it had it graded or oftentation put on it but it is a real deal I will sell it for $30,000

  7. 1944 s steel penny,ms68+,sticks to magnet,the real deal, the last real one sold in 2018 at heritage auction for $389,000+ in average condition. If you are interested,$80,000 firm,in perfect condition. Do homework,and if can afford,a really good investment! Randy @ 4792875574,,God bless

  8. SO…OUT OF THE APPROXIMATELY 15-20 1944 STEEL WHEAT PENNIES THAT WERE MADE IN ERROR…10 OF THEM ARE OWNED BY ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT POSTED ON HERE?? I’M NOT BUYING THAT AT ALL ! STATISTICALLY…IMPOSSIBLE!

  9. Have a 1944s wheat penny sticks to magnet and actually found in my purse. The liberty looks doubled but it looks good and weighs 2.7g offers accepted that fit into range. Email if interested.

  10. I have ran into a 1944 steel penny about a few months and didn’t realize what I had in my possession.”So I gave it the magnet test.”It stuck to my magnet and its weight is 2.7

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