NNP

Wartime Alloy.  Made of a substitute alloy during hostilities. Certain metals become extremely scarce during wartime, and are declared as strategic metals. Among these are bronze, because of its use in shell casing and armaments, and somewhat nickel and tin. Since these metals are widely used in coins and medals, substitute alloys are employed, most notable zinc and iron, and, to a lesser extent silver. As a result  five-cent coins 1942-1945, were made in an alloy of silver, copper and manganese. U.S. cents were struck in zinc coated steel in 1943. Italy introduced coins struck in iron, called acomonital, in 1939 as a wartime alloy.  .

Reference:                                                                                                                                       

NC8 {1988} Breen, p 260 for story on U.S 5c nickel alloy substitute problem.

excerpted with permission from

An Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology

For Artists, Makers, Collectors and Curators

COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY D. WAYNE JOHNSON

Roger W. Burdette, Editor