1944-D 1C --Struck on a Zinc-Coated Steel Planchet--MS63 NGC....

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Astounding 1944-D Steel Cent, MS63

1944-D 1C --Struck on a Zinc-Coated Steel Planchet--MS63 NGC. "These rare cents are offered too infrequently to establish any firm retail value ... " So Lange (2005) described the market for the off-metal cents of 1944, struck in the previous year's zinc-coated steel instead of the then-current shellcase alloy. Yet Heritage has had an uncommonly strong showing of such pieces in 2007. The Central States auction had two such coins, a 1944 and a 1944-D, while the June Long Beach sale had a 1944-D as well. Despite longstanding market conditions that had priced the 1944 steel cents well below their 1943 bronze counterparts, eager bidding has narrowed the gap in recent months, particularly for high-end representatives.
The 1944-D steel cent is even scarcer than its Philadelphia Mint counterpart. David Lange reports an estimate of "no more than 10" 1944-D pieces. The Select Uncirculated 1944-D example offered here continues Heritage's improbable run of branch mint steel planchet errors. The surfaces of this attractive piece have pleasing blue-gray patina with lavender elements and a single spot of darker color below the space between OF and AMERICA. The strike is well-defined by the standards of the steel cent, with strong detail on the portrait and crisply defined wheat ears. The fields are lightly marked overall, and a pair of abrasions appear on the chin. These flaws define the grade, yet have little impact on the coin's substantial visual appeal. This is the single finest 1944-D steel cent certified by NGC and ranks among the best-preserved examples of the 1944 steel planchet error from any mint (6/07), and as such, its sale creates a tremendous opportunity for the error collector and Lincoln cent enthusiast.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 22EC, PCGS# 2723, Greysheet# 2097)

Weight: 3.11 grams

Metal: 95% Copper, 5% Tin and Zinc

View Certification Details from NGC