| Country: | United States |
| Denomination: | Cent |
| Value: | $0.01 |
| Unit: | U.S. dollars |
| Diameter: | 19.05 |
| Edge: | Plain |
| Years Of Minting: | 1942 |
| Obverse: | File:1942 One Cent Pattern, Judd-2063 (obv).jpg |
| Obverse Design: | Bust from the Colombian 2 centavo coin |
| Obverse Designer: | Unknown |
| Obverse Design Date: | Unknown (original), 1942 (modified) |
| Obverse2: | 1942 Aluminum cent pattern obverse.jpg |
| Obverse2 Design: | Abraham Lincoln |
| Obverse2 Designer: | Victor D. Brenner |
| Obverse2 Design Date: | 1909 |
| Reverse: | File:1942 One Cent Pattern, Judd-2063 (rev).jpg |
| Reverse Design: | Wreath |
| Reverse Designer: | Unknown |
| Reverse Design Date: | Unknown |
| Reverse2: | 1942 Aluminum cent pattern reverse.jpg |
| Reverse2 Design: | Wheat heads |
| Reverse2 Designer: | Victor D. Brenner |
| Reverse2 Design Date: | 1909 |
The 1942 experimental cents were pattern coins struck by the United States Mint to test alternative compositions for the penny.
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]
| 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 |
| 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 |