1942 experimental cents

The 1942 experimental cents were pattern coins struck by the United States Mint to test alternative compositions for the penny.

Cent

United States
Value	$0.01 U.S. dollars
Diameter	19.05 mm
Edge	Plain
Years of minting	1942
Obverse
Design	Bust from the Colombian 2 centavo coin
Designer	Unknown
Design date	Unknown (original), 1942 (modified)
Design	Abraham Lincoln
Designer	Victor D. Brenner
Design date	1909
Reverse
Design	Wreath
Designer	Unknown
Design date	Unknown
Design	Wheat heads
Designer	Victor D. Brenner
Design date	1909

History

After the outbreak of World War II, the demand for copper rose as it was used in ammunition and other military equipment. The US Mint researched ways to reduce or eliminate the usage of copper in cent production. The mint struck pattern coins in various metals, using the obverse design of the Colombian two centavo coin.^[1] Dies were sent to various companies to test possible non-metal compositions. Patterns were also struck with modified rim Lincoln cent dies.^[2]

One of the compositions tested, zinc-coated steel, was chosen for the 1943 cent.^[3]

Compositions

Colombian patterns

Composition	Catalog number	Produced by	Notes
Bronze	J2051/P2073	United States Mint
Brass	J2052	United States Mint
Zinc	J2053	United States Mint
Zinc-coated steel	J2054/P2074	United States Mint	This composition was chosen for the 1943 cent
Manganese	J2055/P2075	United States Mint
White metal	J2056	United States Mint
Aluminum	J2057/P2076	United States Mint
Lead	J2058	United States Mint
Bakelite	J2067/P4001	Bakelite Corporation
Transparent amber plastic	J2065/P4005	Unknown
Hard rubber	J2068/P4010	Unknown
Lead grey plastic	J2061/P4015	Unknown
Fibrous black plastic	J2059/P4020	Unknown
Light tan plastic	J2063/P4025	Unknown
Dark tan plastic	J2063/P4030	Unknown
Brown plastic	J2060/P4035	Unknown
	J2070	Auburn Button Works	Mirrored image, struck from hub dies
Brass-colored plastic	J2064/P4040	Unknown
Red-brown plastic	J2062/P4045	Unknown	Coin alignment
	J2062/P4050		Medal alignment
Rust-colored plastic	J2062/P4053	Durez Plastics and Chemicals
Red fibrous material	J2066	Unknown
Tempered glass	J2069	Blue Ridge Glass Company

Lincoln patterns

Composition	Catalog number	Produced by	Notes
Aluminum	J2079	United States Mint	Struck with standard proof dies
Zinc-coated steel	J2080	United States Mint	Reported, but not confirmed
White metal	J2081	United States Mint	Struck with modified rim Lincoln cent dies

See also

• Silver center cent
• Ring cent
• 1943 steel cent
• 1974 aluminum cent