2017-01-10 Tue

A unique 1942 penny made of glass that was issued during the Second World War due to the shortage of copper was sold for £57,000, much more than its estimated value of £24,000. The US Mint experimented with other materials like plastic and rubber as copper resources were badly required for producing ammunition.

The inaccurate impressions, irregular weight and sharp edges led to the failure of these coins. Most of them were destroyed and the coin offered at the auction is one of the two coins that exist today. The other piece is broken in half.

The coin was discovered and purchased in August 2016 by Roger W. Burdette, author of the book United States Pattern and Experimental Pieces of World War II. The coin is made of tempered, yellow-amber transparent glass from Corning Glass Company.

Apart from Plastics fabricators who were experimenting, the Blue Ridge Glass Company of Kingsport, Tennessee, was looking for an opportunity in late 1942. After all the experiments failed the Mint finally struck zinc-coated steel cents in 1943.