What happens if you find a 1943 penny?

What penny sold for $1.7 million?

The Don Lutes Jr. coin- a bronze Lincoln cent- was sold for such a huge amount because currently, only a handful of these exist. So far, 15 to 20 bronze Lincoln cents have been discovered. The most expensive sold for $1.7 million.

How many 1943 copper pennies have been 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.

How much can I sell a 1943 steel 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).

What is the rarest penny to find?

7 Most Rare Pennies — and What Makes Them Unique

• 1856 Flying Eagle Cent. ...
• 1864 Indian Head Penny – "L" on Ribbon. ...
• 1909-P and 1909-S VDB Lincoln Pennies. ...
• 1943 Lincoln Cent Struck on Bronze Alloy. ...
• 1944-S Lincoln Steel Penny. ...
• 1969-S Lincoln Penny – Doubled Die Obverse. ...
• 1958 Doubled Die Obverse Cent.

What's so special about a 1943 penny?

The Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints each produced these 1943 Lincoln cents. The unique composition of the coin (low-grade steel coated with zinc, instead of the previously 95%-copper-based bronze composition) has led to various nicknames, such as wartime cent, steel war penny, zinc cent and steelie.

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.

Are there fake 1943 steel pennies?

Warning: Copper-Plated 1943 Steel Cents

Unfortunately, counterfeit 1943 copper cents are common. Many ordinary 1943 steel cents have been copper-plated to resemble the rare copper errors. These copper-plated coins can fool the untrained eye but lack the characteristics of authentic 1943 copper cents.

How many bronze 1943 pennies are there?

Since then, it's estimated that 15-20 examples of the 1943 bronze cent from the Philadelphia mint survive along with six confirmed from San Francisco. The rarest 1943 bronze cent is the one coin known to exist from the Denver Mint. It sold at auction for $1.7 million in 2010.

Should I clean my 1943 steel penny?

Cleaning won't add value to those coins, especially if they're already worn. It's important to understand their current condition. You mentioned having several 1943 steel pennies and some 1944s.

What penny is worth $250000 today?

Depending on their condition, those 1943 Lincoln wheat pennies would be worth, at most, between $100,000 and $250,000, Feigenbaum said.

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.

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.

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.