Victory Encased Cents

I collect "Victory" encased cents. My interest started when I noticed that there was a finite "known" number to collect. As you know there are only state catalogues of encased coins available as references. There is "no" definitive reference book on encased coins. According to information from the now defunct ECI website there were 72 different encased with the victory obverse. (see images above) Having been born just after WWII I have always had a fascination with things related to WWII. So off I went buying them on eBay®. I am currently aware of 95 (4/17/2021) different reverses for the Type 1 Obverse. Only one Type Two Obverse is known. This is the most common piece and readily available in new condition with a full red cent in MS condition. Below is a list of the known reverses with location if known. In 2018 I acquired "Waterbury Buckle Co. / Waterbury, Conn. / Since 1853. With this brought the total of Type 1's is 89. I was sent the image of #94 The John C. Roberts Shoe. I do not claim to have a complete list and open to exchanging information about other victory encased and information on identifying location for mavericks. Below are the two newest Victory encased I know about. The Roberts image is courtesy of Richard P. Myers. The "EASTER SUNDAY SOUVENIR / REV. W. H. JOHNSON, PASTOR / APRIL 21, 1946 / WEST TULSA CHURCH / OF THE NAZARENE" Tulsa, Oklahoma is the second 1946 encased cent.

The designation of this as the obverse is because this is the obverse of the coin. The Type Two obverse differs from the Type One obverse in that the Type Two has no scrolls and no laurel leaves and says "Year" at the bottom, while the Type One says "World Peace" The only piece with the Type Two Obverse is "There Is No Substitute For Veterinary Service".

In looking at the two designs my opinion is that the Type Two was manufactured by a different company than the Type Ones. At this time there are no other examples know of the Type Two Obverse

Note the denticles around the rim of the encasement on the obverse and the reverse of the Type One. The Type Two is smooth edged front and back. Further note the fonts used and the way they appear on the piece. The Type Two font is plain and appears flat and not very appealing. The Type One uses a font that pops out at you and the "World Peace" is in italics. All know pieces are 35mm round aluminum encasements and contain 1945 cents. I have not seen any with a mint mark.

I have created two lists below. One is alpha by state. The other is alpha by reverse Legend.

The list originally comes from the ECI site and all credit goes to Derek McDonough who compiled it with help from Vic Noland, Carl Bangora, Jim Lawniczak and Bob Perdue (no relation). I have prepared it in alpha form by state and a second list by slogan to allow easier searching for pieces. I recently (8/18/17 compared lists and locations with Joel Resnick. Due to this exchange I add new pieces and updated mavericks (location) if Joel and I agreed. All pieces listed are known and either Joel or I have an example. The "Carl & Velma Bomber's Tavern" comes in three flavors depending on font, capitalization and order of slogan. One has "Bomber Tavern" above Lincoln's head and the other has " Carl & Velma's" at the top. I will try to provide scans of these three types.

The original list from ECI has 72 different reverses known. I added in 2015 four Victory encased that are not on that list. They are "EVANS SERVICE / PHONE 69501 / 9TH & BROAD, BETHLEHEM, PA.", "PRINCETON KNITTING MILLS, INC" (Watertown, Connecticut), "ROMAN'S MOTOR SERVICE / 308 CHESS ST. / MONONGAHELA, PA. PH. 222" and "FLATBUSH FEDERAL / SAVINGS & LOAN ASSN. / 2146 NOSTRAND AVE. / B'KLN 10, N.Y.". I added "Waterbury Buckle" in 2017. The number has grown to 88 different type 1 and only 1 type 2 for a total of 89.