How much is a 1943 Lincoln wheat penny worth?

What do I do if I have a 1943 copper penny?

If you think you might own a real 1943 copper penny or any type of rare precious metals, we recommend getting it authenticated by a third-party service.

How many 1943 copper pennies were found?

The 1943 Copper S penny is one of the most rare coins in circulation in the United States. There are 12 that are known, with an additional 28 that may exist, but no one knows for sure, the number of 40 is an estimation based on the theory of how they were accidently produced.

Which is the rarest Lincoln penny to collect?

1943 Lincoln Cent Struck on Bronze Alloy

In 1943, Lincoln bronze dies were accidentally struck on leftover bronze planchets from 1942, creating this coveted coin. The 1943-S version of this coin struck at the San Francisco Mint is the most rare version of this penny, with only six known examples in existence.

Should I clean old pennies?

Polishing and/or cleaning coins can reduce their value. Older coins that show deep age coloration are more desirable than coins whose surfaces have been stripped away by improper polishing or cleaning. If you do polish a coin to remove dirt, use mild soap and water.

How do I see if my penny is valuable?

How to tell if an old penny is worth money

1. Check the Year: The minting year can tell much about a penny's value. ...
2. Inspect for Errors: Errors, like double dies or wrong metal use, can significantly increase a penny's value. ...
3. Look at the Mint Mark: The Mint Mark shows where a coin was minted.

What makes a 1943 wheat penny so valuable?

Low Mintage Years: Some years saw fewer pennies being made, which makes those specific years more sought after by collectors. For example, a 1943 bronze Lincoln Wheat penny is extremely rare because most pennies from that year were made of steel due to a metal shortage during World War II.

Why is the 1943 copper penny so rare?

In 1943, to conserve copper for World War II efforts, the U.S. Mint produced pennies made of steel coated with zinc. However, a very small number of pennies were mistakenly struck on leftover copper planchets from the previous year, making them a rare collector's item.

How do I know if my 1943 penny is rare?

Given their high value, 1943 copper pennies are often counterfeited. A good way to confirm this coin's value is to use a magnet or scale. A copper penny won't react to a magnet and weighs about 3.11 grams.

How much can I get for a 1943 copper penny?

For a Lincoln cent, however, the 1943 copper penny is extremely valuable, with circulated examples selling at auction in the past two years bringing between $240,000 and $336,000. The unique 1943-D copper penny is held in a longterm collection and carries an estimated value of over one million dollars.

How much can you sell a 1943 penny for?

1943 steel pennies are worth about 10 to 13 cents each in circulated condition and as much as 50 cents or more if uncirculated. The following table lists the buy price (what you can expect to pay to a dealer to purchase the coin) and sell value (what you can expect a dealer to pay you if you sell the coin).

Should I cash in my pennies now?

So, what should you do with those pennies now? You can continue to spend them. Retailers will continue to accept pennies if you want to pay with exact change. However, you certainly shouldn't save them in the hopes that their value will increase, as that's unlikely to happen in the near future.

What is the error on the 1943 penny?

A lot of people talk about 1943 pennies and that they may have a silver one, and while they may have the right color penny, most of those are zinc plated steel. The famed error for the 1943 penny is the copper one, as the USA switched metals from copper to steel in order to conserve metal for their war effort.

How to test a 1943 penny?

Weight Test

Using a kitchen scale that measures to the hundredth of a gram, weigh your penny. If it weighs 2.70 grams, it has the right weight for a 1943 steel penny. If it weighs 3.11 grams, examine the date and look for signs of alterations. If there are no signs of alterations, it might be a valuable error coin.

How much is a 1943 wheat penny worth with no mint mark?

Unfortunately, when coins have no mint mark it does not make them more valuable. Coins with no mint mark are by default minted in Philadelphia. 684,628,670 steel Pennies were minted at Philadelphia with no mintmark, so each one is worth between $1-2.

Why is the 1943 penny worth $1,000,000?

This rare 1943 Lincoln cent is only 1 of 15 known in the world. Photograph courtesy of The Money Museum. This rare cent is one of approximately 15 examples found in circulation. Known as error coins, these rare pennies were made using copper instead of zinc, and were never intended to be struck.

Is WD-40 good for cleaning coins?

The oil-base makes WD-40 reasonably effective at removing it without a lot of work. There is of course some sacrifice when this stuff is removed but fortunately the metal underneath is in pretty good condition and the coin, in hand, is much more presentable.