1943 Lincoln Steel Cent
Split Before Strike (1.42 Grams)
Uniface Obverse
PCGS MS 62
UNIQUE
$5,000

This unique 1943 Steel Cent was struck on a planchet that split prior to striking. A split planchet entered the collar underneath another planchet. Both planchets were struck together.

The obverse die struck the planchet on top of this split planchet, while the reverse die struck the reverse of this split planchet. This created a uniface obverse. Only the reverse die struck this 1943 Steel Cent. It is a unique combination of errors on a 1943 Steel Cent.

I know of two other 1943 Steel Cents with a uniface obverse or reverse. There are no other 1943 Steel Cents known that were struck on a planchet that was split first.

A regular 1943 Steel Cent planchet weighs 2.7 grams with a composition of zinc-coated steel. This split before strike weighs 1.42 grams, approximately half of the weight of a normal Steel Cent planchet. The zinc-coated Steel Cent planchets did not split and separate like copper, clad and silver coinage, making this split before strike unique.

Another unique 1943 Steel Cent major mint error is a first strike obverse brockage that realized $31,200 in auction. Major mint errors on 1943 Steel Cents are very popular and rare.

Recently, a 1943 Lincoln Cent obverse mirror brockage (PCGS MS 63) sold in a Stack's Bowers auction for a record price of $31,200 (lot # 4410). Photos courtesy of Joe Cronin, author of the popular error reference book, Mint Errors to Die For.

Uniface Strikes are featured in my NLG Award winning book,
World's Greatest Mint Errors.