What is so special about the 1943 copper penny?
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The 1943 copper penny is incredibly special and valuable because it is one of the most famous and rare error coins in U.S. history. During World War II, the U.S. Mint switched from using copper to zinc-coated steel for pennies to conserve copper for the war effort. A small number of pennies were accidentally struck on leftover copper-alloy blanks (planchets) from 1942, making them a rare and highly sought-after mistake.
Is a 1943 copper penny worth anything today?
Record-Breaking Auction Sales
Even lower-grade authentic 1943 Copper Pennies sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars, making them one of the most valuable U.S. coins ever struck.
Which 1943 penny is worth $1,000,000 today?
Most circulated examples are worth between 10 and 50 cents, while uncirculated coins can fetch $2 to $10, with high-grade certified pieces reaching $100 or more. Rare error varieties, such as the highly sought-after 1943 Copper Penny, can be worth over $100,000, and some have sold for more than $1 million.
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.
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.
1943 Copper Penny CSI Photo Investigation
What is the most valuable year for a penny?
- 1943-D Lincoln Bronze Wheat Penny — $2.3 million. ...
- 1944-S Steel Wheat Penny — $1.1 million. ...
- 1793 Strawberry Leaf Cent — $862,500. ...
- 1943-S Lincoln Cent Struck on Bronze — $282,000. ...
- 1909 VDB Matte Proof Lincoln Penny — $258,000. ...
- 1958 Doubled Die Obverse Cent — $224,831. ...
- 1856 Flying Eagle Cent — $172,500.
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.
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 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).
What is the holy grail of pennies?
A 1943 copper penny is known as the "holy grail of mint errors," as only 27 of the pennies are known to exist. They were struck by mistake from leftover copper blanks from 1942. All other pennies minted in 1943 were zinc-coated steel, like the one seen here, amidst the copper conservation effort of World War II.
Will a copper penny stick to a magnet?
The easiest way to determine if a 1943 cent is made of steel, and not copper, is to use a magnet. If it sticks to the magnet, it is not copper. If it does not stick, the coin might be of copper and should be authenticated by an expert.
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 to tell if your 1943 penny is rare?
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.
What does it mean if a 1943 penny sticks to a magnet?
Your 1943 wheat penny is made of steel coated with zinc, which is why it sticks to a magnet — that's completely normal for this year. These coins were issued during World War II to conserve copper and are quite common, typically worth only a few cents in circulated condition.
How many rare 1943 pennies are there?
It is estimated that there were 40 1943 copper pennies produced, and of those 40, there are 27 known surviving coins. Their rarity makes them one of the most coveted and sought-after items in American numismatics.
Why are 1999 pennies worth $4,500?
It's from 1999 and could be worth $4,500 thanks to a little-known error on it. What you want to look for is a 1999 penny with no mint mark, which means no letter under the year on the heads side. As for the tails side, that's where you have to look closely.
What is the rarest penny in the world?
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.
Are wheat pennies worth saving?
After that, the wheat stalks were shorn and pennies began displaying an engraving of the Lincoln Memorial. Most Lincoln wheat pennies are not super-valuable and are worth just a few cents more than one cent. However, some may escalate into the hundreds of dollars, depending on the condition and when minted.
What is an Omega penny?
The coins will bear a unique Omega (Ω) privy mark, signifying each coin is among the last of the circulating pennies ever struck by the Mint. The unique number of sets recognizes the 232 years of penny production.