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

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

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

See also

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

References