By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..
The valuable 1943 Copper Cent (or 1943 Bronze Cent, or 1943 Copper Penny) is that rare type of treasure that would pass as nearly worthless to the unknowledgeable but is instantly recognizable to the initiated. Nearly every 1943 Copper Cent was found circulating in pocket change.
What’s the Big Deal About the 1943 Copper Cent?
Readers often reach out to us about the 1943 Cent. In 1942, the United States Mint was tasked with finding an alternative to copper to produce one-cent coins. The Mint tested different metals and even asked private industry to come up with a viable solution. Some of these experiments focused on non-metal cent alternatives, including glass.
Ultimately, the Mint settled on a composition of zinc-plated steel. Zinc-plated steel cents have a brilliant silvery color when new but tarnish with wear and turn a dark slate grey.
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Steel and Copper Cent Production in 1943 |
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| Coin | Steel Cent Mintage | Copper Cent Known | |
| 1943 | 684,628,670 | 10-12 | |
| 1943-D | 217,660,000 | 1 | |
| 1943-S | 191,550,000 | 5 | |
The Mint produced a total of over one billion 1943 Lincoln Steel Cents, striking them at each of the three mints, with over 60% being struck at the Philadelphia Mint. In the course of producing these coins, either by accident or through intention, a small number of coins were struck on copper planchets left over from the preceding year.
Both the Treasury Department and the general public disliked the Steel Cent upon its release. The coin was similar in size to the Mercury Dime and became dingy and ugly with use. While many were hoarded as a novelty, the Mint was able to withdraw most of them from circulation over time. In 1944, the Mint resumed cent production using a copper alloy; this is why several 1943 Copper Cents were discovered years later circulating in change. For the year in which they were struck, they were anomalous in appearance. Compared to an ordinary cent, however, they looked the same – the only difference being the date.
The first example, a 1943-S Copper Cent, was discovered in 1944 by collector Kenneth S. Wing, Jr., of Long Beach, California. At the time of his discovery, Wing was offered $500 for the coin, but he declined the offer. To authenticate the coin, Wing wrote to Leland Howard, the Acting Director of the United States Mint.
Director Howard responded on August 20, 1946:
“[I]n reference to your letter of August 11th, there were no copper cents struck during the calendar year 1943 at any of the coinage Mints [Italics added. —Ed.]. Only the zinc-coated steel cent was struck during that year.”
Undeterred, Wing showed the coin to the superintendent of the San Francisco Mint in 1948 and was told that the coin was authentic.
In 1957, Wing attempted to have the Treasury Department authenticate the coin. The Treasury referred Wing to the Smithsonian Institution. Vladimir Clain-Steanelli was convinced that the coin was authentic.
In 1947, Don Lutes discovered the first one struck at the Philadelphia Mint. He acquired his in change given to him at his high school cafeteria in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
In time, others were discovered, each with its own story. Public awareness of the coin grew with every subsequent discovery, and as the coins broke records with each auction appearance, counterfeiters began to take advantage. The typical fake 1943 Copper Cent is an altered date. These are easily identifiable, but no numismatic coin valued at over $500 should be bought or sold without authentication.
Some basic Copper Cent characteristics to be aware of:
- 1943 copper pennies are nonmagnetic
- 1943 copper pennies weigh 3.11 grams
- The “3” of the date of a 1943 copper penny will be identical to the “3” on a steel cent
- The strike quality of all genuine 1943 copper pennies is sharp, with clear designer’s initials (V.D.B.) and raised rims. These details can be muted on worn coins, however.
The 1943-D Lincoln Copper Cent is Unique
In the case of the 1943-D Lincoln Copper Cent, only one example is known at this time, and it carries a value of approximately one million dollars. The 1943-D Lincoln Copper Cent likely was made on purpose by a Denver Mint employee and then kept secret. This is based on information that became public only in 1996.
The 1943-D Lincoln Copper Cent was first certified by ANACS on September 28, 1979 and consigned by the family of a deceased Denver Mint employee to Superior’s May 27-28, 1996 sale, where it brought $82,500.
Before the coin was encapsulated, dealer Ira Goldberg removed “crud” from the surface of the coin using “Coin Care” and a Q-Tip swab. At the time, Goldberg said that the coin had fragments of zinc on its surface, probably imparted from the coin dies, which suggests that the copper cent was struck along with zinc cents.
The 1943-D Copper Lincoln Cent was next sold on February 24, 2003, for $212,750. Texas Rangers owner Bob R. Simpson purchased the coin for $1.7 million in 2010. This sale was handled by Andrew Skrabelak of Angel Dee’s, representing the seller, and Laura Sperber of Legend Numismatics, representing the buyer.
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Market Data and Noteworthy Specimens
Top Population: PCGS MS64BN (1, 8/2025), NGC N/A (0, 8/2024), and CAC N/A (0:0 stickered:graded, 8/2025).
- PCGS MS64BN #40273607: A Denver Mint employee and his estate; Authenticated by ANACS, 1979; Goldberg Auctioneers, February 2003, Lot 149; Unknown intermediary; Legend, private sale via Andy Skrabalak, September 2010, $1,700,000; Bob R. Simpson; “The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part III,” Heritage Auctions, June 20, 2021 – $840,000. Simpson novelty insert.
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Design
Obverse:
Litvak-American artist Victor David Brenner’s portrait of Abraham Lincoln depicts the president from the shoulder up. Lincoln is dressed in a period suit and is wearing a bow tie. Brenner’s initials, V.D.B., appear in Lincoln’s shoulder truncation. At the top of the design, wrapping around the rim, is the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The word LIBERTY appears behind Lincoln’s neck, on the left side of the coin. The date 1943 appears slightly lower, positioned in front of Lincoln’s portrait, on the right side of the coin. Below the date is the mintmark D for Denver.
Reverse:
Brenner’s “Wheat Cent” reverse. Two sheaves of wheat wrap around the right and the left side of the coin. At the top of the design, the motto E · PLURIBUS · UNUM wraps around the rim. The denomination ONE CENT is inscribed in large sans serif letters, with the bottom arm of each “E” extending beyond the arm at the top (the middle arm is recessed). Beneath the denomination, in the same font but a smaller type, is the legend UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Edge:
The edge of the 1943-D Lincoln Copper Cent is plain, without reeding or edge lettering.
Designer
Victor David Brenner, born in Lithuania in 1871, immigrated to New York at the age of 19. The classically trained sculptor built a group of clients, which included the future president Theodore Roosevelt. Having previously created a medallion of Lincoln, Brenner was contracted by Roosevelt in 1908 to use one of his previous images of the 16th president for a new design of the cent. At the time of his death, Brenner had carved over 125 different medals, sculptures, and coins (View Designer’s Profile).
Coin Specifications
| Country: | United States of America |
| Year of Issue: | 1943 |
| Denomination: | One Cent (USD) |
| Mintmark: | D (Denver) |
| Mintage: | One known |
| Alloy: | .950 Copper, .050 Tin and Zinc |
| Weight: | 3.11 g |
| Diameter: | 19.00 mm |
| Edge: | Plain |
| OBV Designer: | Victor David Brenner |
| REV Designer: | Victor David Brenner |
| Quality: | Business Strike |
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I have a1943 no mint maker copper penny.
Wanting to get it appraised and sell.
@Francisco N Calderon: Before trying to get it appraised, there are several simple tests to perform at home:
> Does it stick to a magnet? If so, it’s a copper-plated forgery.
> What does it weigh? If it’s 2.7 gm, it’s an altered steel cent.
> If it weighs 3.11 gm, what does the “3” in the date look like? If the tail points horizontally, it’s an altered 1948 bronze cent. If it points down at the 7:00 position, it could be an altered 1945 – or you could be in luck, so have it examined by a reputable dealer.
Check the weight on a good scale. It should be 3.11 grams if it’s not, it is fake. Check it with a magnet, if it sticks, it is fake. If you pass both of those tests, go to a major auction house. Stacks-bowers, heritage. If they think it is real, submit it for auction. They will authenticate it, sell it, and give you 80% to 90% of the money.
I got a penny from the 1934 and 1944 s penny are there with anything
I have a 1943 D Mint I would like to get appraised please
@Mark Kronsberg: If it’s silver or gray in color and sticks to a magnet it’s a standard-issue steel cent. Almost a quarter of a billion were struck; in average condition they’re worth less than 50¢. Better-condition coins can bring a premium.
As the article explains, only one genuine bronze 1943-D cent is known.
Check the weight on a good scale. It should be 3.11 grams if it’s not, it is fake. Check it with a magnet, if it sticks, it is fake. If you pass both of those tests, go to a major auction house. Stacks-bowers, heritage. If they think it is real, submit it for auction. They will authenticate it, sell it, and give you 80% to 90% of the money.
I have several 1943 pennies how do I get them appraised and where please help
@Billy Smith Please the responses to other posters from Daniel Presburger and myself. Assuming your coins are standard steel cents in circulated condition, they’re still too common to be worth getting appraised.
I have a 1943 copper in very good condition.
And no I do not want to sell it but I do have one.
@Dale Blankenship Please see the story for help in determining whether you have one of the huge number of counterfeit 1943 bronze cents that have been created. A genuine bronze cent will weigh ~3.11 gm and NOT stick to a magnet.
Read my other comments. You can go to anacs or PNG to get it authenticated.
I have a 1943 penny could you please let me know what it’s worth if I send you a picture of it please and thank you very much????
@Troy Peters Please see the responses to other posters from Daniel Presburger and myself. Standard steel cents in circulated condition are still too common to be worth getting appraised.
I have several of those pennies I have half dollars I’ve never been able to reach anyone in order to have them evaluated.
It’s funny how someone removed the crud off the 43 d bronze Lincoln with a chemical cleaner and a Q-tip and everyone is okay with that. But do it to any other coin and you get seen as a monster …yeah yeah yeah I am aware it’s some “professional” that cleaned it but if it doesn’t state on the slab that it has been cleaned then the grading company is a scam that only is in it for the money and set prices based on lies. That is just my opinion from what I just read and from many many sites that talk about cleaning a coin. Of course I am not fool, any thing is only worth what someone is willing to pay, however if a company is known for setting values to a collector market they should have a 100% no exceptions guarantee when they grade anything.
Heck if you don’t like the grade they assign to a coin or yours just crack the slab open and send it again. It has been shown on several platforms that sometimes they grade it again without them knowing you resent it and they give a new grade up or down…
I collect and I will never have anyone else tell me how my money should be bought or sold except whomever I am selling or buying from. Grading companies are not reliable enough nor honest enough to solve human error.
Hi! I have a 1943-D. Id like to have looked at & appraised please!
@Tiffany M Rich Please re-check the article for steps you can take at home to verify your coin. If it sticks to a magnet, it’s _not_ one of the rare ones; it’s just a normal 1943-D steel cent. If it doesn’t stick you have to check the date for alterations because there are tons of forgeries on the market.
That said, I’d advise not getting your hopes up. Most “rare 1943 copper cents” have turned out to be misinterpretations or outright fakes.
So my steal penny is worth nothing?
@Fritz Lockwood Unless it’s in top condition it’s only worth 25¢ to a dollar. Not zero but not worth trying to get an appraisal.
P.S. “steel” :)
I’m sorry it’s 1943.
I have a 43 no mint mark bronze i would like to have looked at an appraised,doesnt stick to magnet,is correct weight of 3.1,and has all markings in which ive read and that an authenticate 43 is suppose to have,,been looked at by several coin shops,collectors,dealer and not 1 has said it was fake,, if anything they tell me i need a body guard,not to be carrying it around or to get it authenticated which is not as easily done as it sounds to be,,,
Same boat …. I have a 43 S mint 3.11g non magnetic to get authentication they want to charge a percentage of total value of coin… I can’t afford that …so I reached out to heratage auction house. Wanted it authenticated…ect. I just locked it up… anyone interested lmk
I have a 1924 penny I think I checked it out with an app I got it said it was worth 470.00$ does anybody have a clue what it is worth
Where can I sell my 1943-D penny
@Latison 80+ years on, they’re still common among collectors and dealers. My advice would be to either give it to a new collector to start their set of “wheaties” or hang onto it as a memento of a time when even the lowly cent had to make a sacrifice for the war effort.
I have a 1941, 1944, 1945 s?, 1946d, 1947d, 1951s, 1953s, 1955d, 1956, 1956d, 1956s, 1958d
Are they worth more than a penny?
Any info on those gold $1. Coins with the 9th president
@Ophelia Thirty seconds with a search engine will give you loads of information about the Presidential Dollar coins. They’re modern circulation pieces made of brass rather than gold.
I have a 1943 and I would like to have it look at
I have a1943 copper 3.1gcharles
I have a cent with errors in front and back, bad printing, I don’t know where can I send it to get value, please help me
There’s a minor “oops” in the description of the reverse design. It shows _sheaves_ of wheat rather than “sheaths”. Yes, wheat plants do have sheaths too, but they’re parts of the growing stem.
good information
I have5 1943 cents. 4steel 1bronze. I can’t find VDB on any of them………are they all fake?