1942 Cent Pattern - J-2081, High Relief

Coin Details

Auction Record

$86,250 MS65 07-27-2008 Stack's

Description

Judd-2081, Pollock-2271, is a high-relief cent pattern from the 1942 wartime testing program. This experimental striking explored whether increased relief could improve the design's appearance on an alternative composition planchet. When striking coins in unfamiliar metals or alloys, the Mint sometimes tested higher-than-normal relief to evaluate how the new material responded to increased striking pressure and whether deeper design elements would compensate for differences in surface quality between the alternative composition and traditional bronze. High-relief strikings require greater press tonnage and produce more die wear, making them impractical for mass production but valuable as test pieces. The high-relief experiment was specifically designed to test the limits of zinc-coated steel or another alternative composition under extreme striking conditions, providing data on how the material would perform not just under normal production parameters but under stress. This pattern sits outside the main composition sequence (J-2051 through J-2069), indicating it was a supplementary experiment focused on striking parameters rather than material selection.

Rarity Notes

R-7. Extremely rare. High-relief experimental strikings are very scarce, as they served a narrow diagnostic purpose and were produced in minimal quantities.

Cross References

Judd J-2081, Pollock P-2271; 1942 wartime cent composition testing program; high-relief experimental striking