1926 Lincoln Wheat Cent Improper Alloy Mix (Obverse NWW–SEE)

Description

This 1926 Lincoln Wheat cent exhibits an improper alloy mix, known among collectors as a "woodgrain" or "woody" cent. The graining runs west-northwest to east-southeast on the obverse and west-southwest to east-northeast on the reverse. The streaking originates in the ingot, where the copper and the tin and zinc failed to combine uniformly, and is drawn into parallel bands as the ingot is rolled into strip. The shallower grain angle on this coin distinguishes it from the other 1926 Philadelphia woodgrain in this batch. Philadelphia struck 157,088,000 cents in 1926.