1944 Lincoln Cent. Zinc-Coated Steel. MS-62 (PCGS). Gold Shield Holder.

1944 Lincoln Cent. Zinc-Coated Steel. MS-62 (PCGS). Gold Shield Holder.，This is a lovely example of the 1944-dated counterpart to the 1943 "copper penny" error made famous by Henry Ford. Smartly impressed with razor sharp striking detail to both sides, the surfaces are predominantly bright silver in appearance with a satiny texture. Scattered carbon deposits account for the MS-62 grade from PCGS, although they are not overly distracting at most viewing angles. Like its 1943 bronze cent counterpart, the 1944 steel cent is a highly prized error that has enchanted collectors since its discovery by collector Richard Fenton in 1945. While not as well known as the 1943 bronze cents, the 1944 steel cents are still rare in the ultimate sense. Fewer than 30 Philadelphia Mint 1944 steel cents are known; the 1943-D steel cent comes in at fewer than 10 pieces known; the 1944-S steel cent is either unique or represented by just two examples. According to the Lange reference on the Lincoln cent series, a single Mint State specimen of this rarity -- along with a Mint State 1943 bronze cent -- was given to the Mints chief engraver, John R. Sinnock, a coin collector himself, who later presented the pair to a "female acquaintance." The pair of cents passed through the hands of several well known coin dealers including Harry J. Forman and John J. Ford, Jr., who consigned the coins to our (Bowers and Ruddys) 1981 ANA auction sale where the steel cent appeared as lot 415. The present piece is one of only five Mint State examples of this Philadelphia Mint error currently known to PCGS, and its quality is similar to that of the Sinnock piece, as a quick comparison to pictures of that coin will confirm. Given the popularity of both the 1943 bronze and 1944 steel cents with todays advanced collectors, we encourage interested parties to prepare the strongest bids possible with which to greet this coin when it crosses our auctioneers block in Baltimore.，，