"War Effort" Vintage U. S. Steel Penny Sound Hole Cover for Cigar Box Guitars

Add a little slice of history to your next cigar box guitar build!

This is another in our line of "Classic Coinage" parts for cigar box guitars, all of which have real, vintage U. S. coins set into them. This is a sound hole cover laser-cut from hardwood panels, which features a 1943 Lincoln "Wheat" cent.  These pennies are unique amongst American coinage in that it was minted from steel with a thin zinc plating, because at the time all of the available copper was needed for making brass shell casings for the war effort during World War II.

The coins set into these sound hole covers are real vintage cent pieces minted by the U. S.  Mint. They are circulated coins and will show varying degrees of wear and or minor surface blemishes. We present them here not for their collector (numismatic) value, but rather for their nostalgia and visual appeal.

These sound hole covers are 2 1/2" in diameter (64mm) and fit nicely over a 1 3/4" (~44mm) hole. They are cut from solid 1/8" thick hardwood panels, with a nice wagon wheel-style pattern and 4 mounting holes.

Please note: We do not overly polish or buff the coins that we mount into these pieces, prefering to leave them in their natural state of coloration and patina from years of circulation. If you prefer a shinier finish, you can always use some extra-fine steel wool to buff them up a bit.