A 69 year old penny

[Paul G]

Pulled a 1944 wheat back penny out of my pocket today. Is it something to stash away? Or just put back in my pocket?

[JB400]

If you're a collector, keep it.  If not, spend it.  Personally, I'd keep it just for the nostalgia

[Mopar Nut]

Keep it.

[69rtse4spd]

Yep keep it, hey the thousand post mark. do I win anything.  .

[A383Wing]

you can have Paul's penny...

or this

[69rtse4spd]

I'll take the penny, class two diabetic. 

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Tell your wife/girlfriend that a 69 year old penny is a sign of something to do later on.

[burnout.dawg]

CoinTracker.com might help with your decision...I'd keep it.

[Tilar]

I'd keep it (or sell it) unless it's a steel penny. Many can be worth up to $6. If it's steel, You need to carefully package it up and send it to me. 

[A383Wing]

steel was 43 I think....I got a couple here

[green69rt]

You didn't say if there is a mint mark under the date but all the 1944 pennies are pretty common.  It's not an investment but it may be a good gift for someone born in 1944.  Put it in a nice frame and search the net for the history of the Lincoln cent and add that as documentation.  Nice little gift.

[68X426]

Keep it.

Invest it. Eventually you'll have a nickel.

[Mopar Nut]

Keep it.

Invest it. Eventually you'll have a nickel.

It's worth 1.5 cents now, he's a quarter of the way already.

[Tilar]

steel was 43 I think....I got a couple here

43 were zinc coated. The 44 steel penny was never intended to be released but a few got out. That's why they are valued so high.

[Chargerguy74]

Before Canada turfed the penny I used to sort out copper pennies (up to 1996 pennies). At the time their copper melt value was about $0.03. Pretty good ROI if you ask me. I've heard of the steel Penny and its value. One day I dumped a role to find an American steel penny and I freaked out!!! I was sure I just found a $20K+ penny....but it was a '43, I guess they weren't worth much lol. Now a silver dime in a roll of pennies, that's a nice surprise.

[green69rt]

As above, the 1943 pennies are zinc coated steel, copper was needed for the war effort.  1944 thru 1946 were made from old shell casings (where'd they get them  ).  One of the rariest pennies is the 1943 copper penny, not many exist and worth thousands.

US Coin Guide lists all the 1944 pennies as worth $0.05 to $0.75 unless it is in shiny mint condition.  There is one type worth more, the mint struck some 1944 pennies with a D over the S mint mark,  It's called a 1944 D/S and they start at $50 and go up to several thousand a coin depending on condition.

Probably more than most people want to know, huh?

[Paul G]

You didn't say if there is a mint mark under the date but all the 1944 pennies are pretty common. 

There is a mark below the date. It looks like an S. Had to get out the magnifying glass to see it. The penny is well worn.

[bull]

I usually keep all the "wheat back" pennies I find. Not sure why but apparently they mean something to me.

[Todd Wilson]

Its a keeper! I go for a year or more and don't find one and then it seems like I find one every month for a while and then nothing.


Todd

[Chargerguy74]

I keep all the US pennies I find up to and including 1982. We used to see a lot of them up here before their use was discontinued. You guys see a few Canadian pennies down there? Feel like you got ripped off when you get one in your change?

[mauve66]

I usually keep all the "wheat back" pennies I find. Not sure why but apparently they mean something to me.

in your unconscious that's when the aliens abducted you, that's why it means something............................

[cudaken]

 Last year a change machine at Wall-greens spit out a 1896 Indian Head Penny in my change! I looked at it funny when I picked it up, the young clerk asked me "Do you want a different penny? Same year I found a Buffalo nickel in my change, 1926 but I think the date was raised with acid.   

All so look for Silver Nickels, made from 1942-1945. I have a few.

Cuda Ken   

[Todd Wilson]

I keep all the US pennies I find up to and including 1982. We used to see a lot of them up here before their use was discontinued. You guys see a few Canadian pennies down there? Feel like you got ripped off when you get one in your change?

Every once in a while I will get a Canada coin  in my change!

Todd

[stripedelete]

Last year a change machine at Wall-greens spit out a 1896 Indian Head Penny in my change! I looked at it funny when I picked it up, the young clerk asked me "Do you want a different penny? Same year I found a Buffalo nickel in my change, 1926 but I think the date was raised with acid.   

All so look for Silver Nickels, made from 1942-1945. I have a few.

Cuda Ken   

Got a Buffalo nickel earlier this year too.  Date was gone.  Did they all have dates?

With the exception of wheat pennies, I would say most all silver and rare coins get put back into circulation when junior gets into grandpa's top drawer for candy/ice cream money.   

[green69rt]

Last year a change machine at Wall-greens spit out a 1896 Indian Head Penny in my change! I looked at it funny when I picked it up, the young clerk asked me "Do you want a different penny? Same year I found a Buffalo nickel in my change, 1926 but I think the date was raised with acid.   

All so look for Silver Nickels, made from 1942-1945. I have a few.

Cuda Ken   

Got a Buffalo nickel earlier this year too.  Date was gone.  Did they all have dates?

With the exception of wheat pennies, I would say most all silver and rare coins get put back into circulation when junior gets into grandpa's top drawer for candy/ice cream money.   

Yeah all buffalo nickels had dates.  But the way they are made, with the date in a somewhat raised position, makes the date disappear faster.