Anyone ever find a 1943 S Steel Wheat Penny?

[freemindstuck]

Hi,

I've always thought the 1943 S Steel wheat penny were cool because of how they were made due to the copper shortages during WWII. My grandfather used to talk about all the different shortages, due to rationing, and the ration book coupon books. I've always thought it'd be neat to find one. But very difficult due to the fact that most of us filter out iron when we are where we might actually find one. It's seems like it might be the holy grail of metal detecting and was curious if anyone else on the forum had ever found one.

 

[CODY]

I have them in my collection, but never found one digging. Probably because of what you said. I try to dis. out the iron and steel. But, being zinc coated steel, looks like the would show up as a zincoln, I don't know.

 

[aloldstuff]

I have managed to nly find 1 steel penny and I can't remember if it had a mint mark or not. I am also pretty sure that I dug it by accident as that is the only one.

 

[Dan48]

I've wondered this myself and also wondered if they wouldn't rust away over time?

 

[Tony Two-Cent]

The most common way to find them metal detecting is in a spill with other coins. They come out of the ground looking like this, or worse:

 

[Full Metal Digger]

Tony is right! A spill is the best way to find them.

 

[Ill Digger]

:yes: Yep. Me too.
Only found them buried with other coins, in a spill.
Here's 2 I found buried with one copper wheatie.

 

[milco]

Found one as part of a multi coin spill with silver, wheaties and a buffalo in 2009.

 

[CyberSage]

I have found two. Both were in pocket spills.

This one, (center left) was found in a 9 Wheat penny pocket spill.

This one (bottom right) was found with a War Nickle and two other Wheats.

 

[Bell-Two]

I found one in a wheat spill of 6 coins, that is the way most are found and generally so bad shape you could not see much of anything on them.

 

[Dig EM]

Steel pennies don't fair well in the ground. I have never found one but have seen them. Its clear that even though they were made of steel they were made of good quality steel or there would be nothing left to find at all. Even zincs don't fair well in the ground.

 

[Lowjiber]

I've never dug one.