During World War II, the U.S. Mint made changes to the nations coinage to help the war effort. Copper was a vital metal that was used in the production of bullets and shell cases for the U.S. military overseas so instead of using new copper for Lincoln Pennies, the mint changed to galvanized steel for 1943 Pennies. And then beginning with the 1944 issues, the Mint recycled copper from used shell cases and used it to make Pennies in the World War II era.

The shell cases were gathered from battleships and battlefields around the world and shipped back to the United States. The shell case Pennies were made only in 1944, 1945, and 1946. Starting in 1947, standard copper was used once again.

These coins are a genuine part of World War II history, and they were last made over 65 years ago.  The set includes coins that actually circulated in America in the World War II era. The design of the steel and shell case Pennies is identical to other Lincoln Pennies of the era: Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and the famous wheat ears design on the reverse.