What should I look for in a 1943 steel penny?
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When examining a 1943 steel penny, you should look for specific characteristics related to its composition, condition, and potential mint errors, as these factors determine its value. Most 1943 steel pennies are common, but certain rare variations can be highly valuable.
How to tell if a 1943 steel penny is valuable?
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.
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.
Should a 1943 wheat penny stick to a magnet?
Magnet Test: An authentic copper 1943 cent will not be magnetic, while a steel (even if copper-plated) cent will stick to a magnet. Weight Check: Copper cents from this period should weigh approximately 3.11 grams, whereas steel cents weigh closer to 2.7 grams.
What makes a 1943 steel penny unique?
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.
1943 Steel Pennies Worth A LOT OF Money!
Should I sell my 1943 steel penny now?
Curious to know “how much is a 1943 steel penny worth now”? The value of a 1943 steel penny, as of 2025, typically ranges from 20 cents to $20, depending on its condition and mint mark. Rare error coins, like the 1943-D steel penny with a doubled mintmark, can be worth several hundred dollars.
How many 1943 pennies are left in the world?
It is estimated that there were 40 1943 copper pennies produced, and of those 40, there are 27 known surviving coins.
What are the errors on a 1943 steel 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.
What is the rarest 1943 penny?
Among all Lincoln Wheat Cents, the 1943 Copper (Bronze) Penny remains one of the rarest and most sought-after error coins in U.S. history. This accidental minting mistake has fascinated collectors, investors, and historians alike.
What's a 1943 steel penny with no mint mark worth?
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.
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 is a 1943 steel penny worth if it sticks to a magnet?
Due to the copper shortage at the beginning of WW2, in 1943 pennies were struck in steel, (the color is silver, not the metal), hence the ferrous quality of steel is why the coin is attracted to a magnet. An average condition 1943 steel cent is maybe worth 15 cents. An uncirculated one is maybe worth 2–4 dollars.
How do I tell if I have a rare 1943 penny?
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.
Are there any valuable 1943 pennies?
There are plenty of pennies out there, but circulation has slowed because people tend to stash coins in jars or drawers. With no new pennies being minted, banks and retailers rely on recycled coins, which can cause local supply issues.
What makes a 1943 steel penny rare?
The Rare 1943 Penny
Mint facilities. The U.S. Mint unintentionally made these 1943 error coins when some copper planchets leftover from the previous year got stuck in the corners of the large bins that moved the blank planchets around the mint.
What is the error missing 4 on a 1943 steel penny?
The missing 4 in the 1943 steel Lincoln penny is a "strike through" error where some grease got caught in the striking die to cause the missing number. It is a desirable error coin and assuming the coin is in better circulated condition, it would sell for as high as $50 to $100 online market.
What does it mean if my 1943 penny sticks to a magnet?
The fact that it sticks to a magnet is all you need to know that it is a steel cent. A copper cent would not stick. It is just a damaged coin know that it has been plated.
Which steel penny is rare?
Collector Confusion
Many collectors confuse steel penny rarity with their copper counterparts. Remember: 1943 copper cents are rare, 1943 steel cents are common. Conversely, 1944 steel cents are rare, 1944 copper cents are common. This confusion could cost collectors significantly when making purchase decisions.
How hard is it to find a 1943 copper penny?
Are you holding a penny inscribed with 1943 and wondering if it's made of copper? It might be a long shot, as only around 40 of these coins are known to remain. Of those, we can trace approximately 10 to 15 back to the Philadelphia Mint, five to the San Francisco Mint, and one to the Denver Mint.
Why is the 1943 D penny so valuable?
The 1943 Copper Penny is one of the rarest and most valuable U.S. coins, with values ranging from $100,000 to over $1 million, depending on condition. Struck by mistake on copper planchets instead of steel, fewer than 20 examples are known to exist.