What happened with the 1918 wheat penny?

[NDFarmer]

I have been searching a few bags of wheats lately and I have noticed something that I have seen before but it got me thinking about it again. Just about all the 1918 wheat pennies I find are smooth. Very seldom do I find one that has any quality to it all. All the other years I find good quality coins for once in a while but not the 1918 penny. Did they do something different that year when they made them? Have anyone of you noticed this when you search wheats?

Another question I have is why do I find so many BU grade pennies from the years 1955 - 1958 but you don't find any where near as many from the years 1950 - 1954 ? Why does just 3 or 4 years make such a difference in their condition? Whether they are 53 years old or 57 years old their condition should be about the same.

[Morsecode]

Question 1: yes, I've noticed that too, and I haven't looked at nearly as many wheats as you, I'm sure. So I'd be interested in the answer if there is one.

Question 2: it's a fact that when the change to Memorials was made people started saving '58 wheats, and no doubt whatever other wheats came their way - which, in 1959, 1960, would've have been predominantly cents from the mid-'50's. Tons were likely socked away, having seen minimal circulation.

Sound reasonable?

[abe]

As far as I know there is nothing special with the 1918's except it was the 1st year with VDB on the shoulder.
In 1916 the obverse was modified a little to give the cent a sharper look. Back in the day people really
used their money and most didn't have the luxary of saving or hoarding. Shoot I'm feel great when I find
any wheat from the teens or 20's with at least half the wheat lines.
Most 1918's were well struck, so there wasn't really any problem with the dies,
they were just well used (to death).

[hirbonzig]

I don't think there was a composition change due to WW1. But if the government changed the metal composition ever so slightly-it might cause 1918 cents to wear differently.

[daviscfad]

I have heard worn out dies cause some of these problems so maybe that's it