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Varieties & errors

1944 steel penny: how to tell if yours is real

3 min read · Updated Oct 5, 2026

In short

  • In 1944 the penny went back to a copper alloy. A normal 1944 penny is brown or copper-colored and does not stick to a magnet.
  • A few 1944 pennies were struck on steel blanks by mistake. They are rare errors.
  • A grey 1944 needs three checks: a magnet, a scale and, if it passes, professional authentication.

What a normal 1944 penny is

The 1943 steel penny wasn't popular. It was confused with dimes and it rusted. So for 1944 the Mint went back to a copper alloy, about 95% copper and 5% zinc. The Treasury said some of the metal would come from used ammunition shells, which is why collectors call these "shell-case" pennies. The alloy was used for pennies dated 1944 to 1946.

Philadelphia alone made more than 1.4 billion pennies in 1944, so a normal one 1944 is common. Our G-4 catalogue estimate is 6¢; it is not a guaranteed selling price.

How a steel 1944 happened

There are two likely explanations. Some steel blanks left over from 1943 may have stayed in the machines. Or blanks for Belgian two-franc coins, which the Philadelphia Mint struck in 1944 on the same kind of steel, got mixed in. Either way, a few 1944 pennies came out grey and magnetic 1944 Steel (error).

Genuine examples are rare, and published population estimates differ by date and mint. Many survivors are rusty or damaged, like normal 1943 steel pennies.

Check yours in three steps

1. The magnet. Bring a magnet known to attract steel close to the coin without rubbing it. Steel is attracted; an ordinary copper-alloy 1944 is not.

Open the magnet test in the app

2. The scale. A steel penny weighs about 2.70 grams. A normal 1944 weighs about 3.11 grams. Use a calibrated scale with 0.01 g resolution and repeat the reading. Wear, damage and measurement error can affect it; our weight tool helps organize the observation.

3. The date. Look at the 4s under a magnifier. Changing one digit of a date is a common trick with rare coins. Someone could rework the last digit of a common 1943 steel penny, which also sticks to a magnet and weighs the same. Look for scratches, a digit that's a different size or style, or a rough patch around it.

Watch outA steel 1943 with a reworked date passes both the magnet test and the weight test. That's why the last check has to be done by an expert.

Get it authenticated

If your coin sticks, weighs about 2.7 grams and the date looks natural, don't clean it. Keep a clear photo record and seek independent advice before accepting an offer. Send it to a professional grading service such as PCGS or NGC. They can examine the metal and date. Acceptance, attribution, encapsulation and guarantees depend on their findings and service terms. PCGS, for example, labels these errors as struck on a steel planchet.

If yours turns out to be plated or altered, you've still learned something useful. A normal 1944 is a nice piece of wartime history too.

Questions

Is a 1944 steel penny real?

Genuine 1944 steel pennies exist but are rare errors, struck on steel blanks by mistake. Many grey 1944 pennies are plated or discolored normal cents, or 1943 steel pennies with a reworked date.

How do I know if my 1944 penny is steel?

Steel is attracted to a magnet and weighs about 2.70 g; a normal 1944 penny is not magnetic and weighs about 3.11 g. If yours passes both, check the 4s for alteration and have it authenticated by a service such as PCGS or NGC.

How much is a normal 1944 penny worth?

Philadelphia alone made more than 1.4 billion 1944 pennies, so a normal one is common. Our G-4 catalogue estimate is 6¢.

Check yours

Open the magnet test and tell us whether your 1944 penny sticks.

Check your own penny

Penny Value is an Android app for now, so it isn't on the App Store. The values and checks on this page are free to use.Penny Value is an Android app. Open this page on your Android phone to check your own penny with a photo.

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Sources

  1. Wikipedia, “Lincoln cent” (accessed 2026-09-26)
  2. Wikipedia, “Lincoln cent mintage figures” (accessed 2026-09-26)
  3. Wikipedia, “1943 steel cent” (accessed 2026-09-26)
  4. PCGS, “PCGS Grades Its First 1944 Steel Cent” (accessed 2026-09-26)
  5. NGC, “4. 1914-D Lincoln Cent” (accessed 2026-09-26)
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