WWII Unique Penny Collection

Americas entry into World War II following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, had a direct effect on the nations Pennies, spawning some historic and unusual emergency coins in an effort to save copper for the war effort.

1941 and 1942 Lincoln Pennies were made in the standard 95% copper composition, with the remainder tin and zinc, but the 1943 coins were made in 100% steel because copper was needed for shell casings and other war-related items. The one-year-only 1943 coins were the only steel coins in U.S. history.

In 1944 and 1945, Pennies were made with recycled copper from shell cases recovered from battlefields and ships. Tin was also needed for the war, so the coins were 95% copper and 5% zinc. All 1941 to 1945 coins were made at the U.S. Mints in Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D mint mark under the date), and San Francisco (S mint mark).

This is the complete WWII collection of all five years of Lincoln Pennies from all three mints. These are the coins that Americans used during World War II!