1926 Lincoln Wheat Cent Improper Alloy Mix (Obverse NW–SE)

Description

This 1926 Lincoln Wheat cent exhibits an improper alloy mix, known among collectors as a "woodgrain" or "woody" cent. The graining runs northwest to southeast on the obverse and south-southeast to north-northeast on the reverse. Incomplete mixing of the copper with the tin and zinc during ingot preparation leaves compositional streaks that the rolling mill draws out into parallel bands, and those bands become visible as alternating light and dark striping once the planchet is struck and toned. The grain orientation differs from the second 1926 Philadelphia woodgrain cataloged in this batch, confirming the two coins came from different planchet stock.