1942 Cent Pattern - J-2052, Brass

Coin Details

Description

Judd-2052, Pollock-2242, is a brass cent pattern from the 1942 wartime testing program. Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, was considered as a potential substitute because it required significantly less copper than standard bronze while maintaining a similar golden-brown appearance that the public would find familiar. The brass composition offered several advantages: it was harder and more wear-resistant than bronze, it could be struck using existing dies and presses with minimal modification, and its warm color would help distinguish cents from other denominations. However, brass still contained a substantial percentage of copper, which limited its attractiveness as a wartime substitute when the goal was to eliminate copper usage entirely. The brass option represented a compromise between maintaining the cent's traditional appearance and conserving strategic materials, and it was ultimately rejected in favor of compositions that contained no copper at all.

Rarity Notes

R-6 to R-7. Very rare. Brass was among the more conventional alternatives tested and was struck in modest quantities.

Cross References

Judd J-2052, Pollock P-2242; 1942 wartime cent composition testing program; brass (copper-zinc alloy)