By Bullion Shark LLC ……
As collectors of U.S. coins are well aware, in 1943 during World War II, the United States Mint struck zinc-coated steel pennies to help conserve copper and tin needed for armaments for American troops fighting in Europe and Japan.
Authorized by a 1942 law that temporarily changed the composition of Lincoln cents, in 1943 the Mint struck over a billion of these steel cents that came to be known as “steelies“, which included 684,628,670 from the Philadelphia Mint, 217,660,000 from the Denver Mint and 191,550,000 from the San Francisco Mint.
While these coins are perennial favorites with collectors–especially nice examples that have not tarnished as millions of others did–it is the rare coin struck that year in the original metal composition that has really captured the imaginations of collectors for decades.
The 1943 Copper Penny
A tiny number of cents were mistakenly struck that year on the copper planchets that had been used previously. It is believed that these coins were made because some copper planchets had been left in the hoppers when the steel cents were being made.
These off-metal errors are by far the rarest of all Lincoln pennies. Widely publicized since the 1940s, these rare copper pennies immediately became the subject of attention from both collectors and the broader public, which led to decades of searching rolls of pennies looking for these rare coins that could be worth a fortune if real.
In the 1940s there were rumors that Henry Ford would reward the finder of a 1943 copper wheat cent with a brand new Ford car even though the company repeatedly denied there was any truth to this.
How Many Were Made?
It was only in the late 1950s that credible reports began to emerge of genuine 1943 copper pennies following many years of reports of fake copper-plated pieces, some from counterfeit dies, that had circulated.
In 1957, a 14-year-old collector from California found the first one that was seen to have some credibility as the genuine article. The Mint’s superintendent, Rae V. Biester, stated it was the only one made and that it should be surrendered to the Mint, which the collector failed to do.
In 1981, an extremely fine example that was reportedly owned by a female friend of late Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock surfaced and sold for $10,000 USD at auction.
In his 1988 Numismatic Encyclopedia, the controversial Walter Breen, using information from the grading firm ANACS, said he thought there were 40 examples of the 1943 copper cents, but Q. David Bowers has noted he does not believe this is supported by the evidence.
Today, a total of 27 1943 copper wheat pennies are confirmed to exist and have been graded–including six of the 1943-S, as well as the unique 1943-D. Seven of the 27 have been graded by PCGS and 13 have been graded by NGC.
How Much is it Worth?
At PCGS the 1943 and 1943-S copper pennies are valued at $1 million each, while the 1943-D is listed at $1.5 million.
But for a coin this rare, actual sales from auctions or private sales (when available) are the best measure of value, especially as these coins rarely come up for sale.
Auctions for the 1943 copper cent have typically been in the range of $100,000 to $250,000. At a public sale of this coin in 2014, an AU55 Brown example garnered $329,000.
The most recent sale of a 1943 copper penny was of the finest-known example of a 1943-S copper cent graded PCGS MS63 Brown CAC at a Heritage Auctions sale on November 19, when that coin brought $500,000. That coin is part of the Bob R. Simpson Collection.
The first 1943-S copper cent was found by the 14-year-old boy mentioned above in 1944 and graded an estimated EF-45. In 1988, the late Walter Breen estimated that about six examples were known to exist – which, as we’ve seen, is still the case.
The Unique 1943-D
The possible existence of this coin was first suggested in a 1958 Numismatic Scrapbook magazine by a Utah collector, who said the United States Secret Service told him it was genuine.
The record price for a 1943 copper cent is the 2010 sale of the unique 1943-D, graded PCGS MS64 Brown, for $1,750,000.
That same coin sold for $212,750 in a 2003 sale held by Goldberg Auctioneers–a price increase of close to 1,000% in just seven years!
What condition does coin has to be in
First you have to know it’s genuine. Only 27 or so real 1943 bronze cents are known but there are oceans of fakes. Please see my answer to Rick Cowles, below.
I pretty sure I have one
There are oceans of fakes and replicas. If it sticks to a magnet it’s just a plated steel cent. If the tail of the “3” in the date points horizontally it’s an altered 1948 cent. Also check its weight; if it’s 3.1 gm you have an altered bronze cent.
It has to be in mint condition Abraham Lincoln 1943 made out of copper and brass like my collection of three of Abraham Lincoln copper brass 1943D wheat
There are mountains of replicas and fakes on the market. Try the standard magnet and weight tests first. If the coin(s) pass those tests have them examined by an expert, but in all honesty don’t get your hopes up.
I have a 1969s that has the double die Obverse and I don’t know what to do with it.
What can we do if we have this kind of penny
You almost certainly have the “steel” version. In the extremely unlikely event that you might have discovered a copper one, your coin would need to be authenticated by a reputable coin grading service.
I just went threw 250 wheat pennies that where in roles I found 5 copper 1943 pennies you can see copper and zinc is coming threw
Well if that’s the case you found 5 of the copper 1943-D American Denver mint made of Abraham Lincoln wheat one cent. lol well just think you can leave your job and retire and go to the triangle Islands Bermuda Triangle lol
There are tons of replicas and counterfeits on the market, so it’s unlikely you have that many genuine bronze 1943 cents.
Try the standard magnet and weight tests to make sure you don’t have a plated steel cent or an altered ’45 or ’48.
P.S. I believe you mean “rolls” and “through”. Hope that helps :)
I have quite a few of those pennies who can I get in contact with to sell them
As the story notes, only about 27 bronze 1943 cents are known from all mints in total. You almost certainly have some of the billion or so steel cents with that date. Many were plated with copper and passed off as “genuine” bronze copies but they’re easy to tell apart: if your coins stick to a magnet, they’re the steel issues and are only worth 20 to 50 cents in average condition.
Excellent well said I couldn’t have tell him much better than what you said there as many people think that copper plated Steel 1943 Abraham Lincoln coin are worth a lot of money the only worth 50 cents
What if I have one that doesn’t stick and weighs 3.11 and was confirmed to be a real 1943 copper Penny but the guy thinks 1944 was the year I need to be looking for I need opinions
So your saying that there wasn’t any 1943 s pennies that were both copper and steel. Because I just got done reading that a copper steel 1943 s went for 1 million. And if a plancit had steel in it then copper over the top your saying its plated. ???
I have a steel penny that is thinner than my other steel pennies. Any thoughts on it?? -Paul
I have one… Who do I get in contact with?
Please see my response to Rick Cowles, below.
now ..you don’t know if she doesn’t have a copper version of it..anybody could come across one anytime anywhere
With only 27 known genuine 1943 bronze cents but possibly millions of fakes, the chances of finding one “anytime, anywhere” are pretty low. Not zero, though, as a couple have turned up in the last few decades.
I recently inherited my great grandfather collection of several odd antiques. I am not sure if this is real or fake but I have a several silver 1943 pennies but 1 that is incase 1943 copper wheat cent. It weighs 3.11 grams and not sure how to go about finding out if this is real or a fake. I have done my research and I’m skeptical about going to a coin shop and more skeptical about sending it in to be graded as they could say it’s just a fake and replace it. I am definitely confused on what to do next..
How do i confirm if the 1943 copper penny I found is genuine but I’m afraid to let it out of my sight in fear of being switched and told its not authentic. What should i do?.
The simplest tests you can do at home are:
• First, see if it sticks to a magnet. If it does, it’s steel and not bronze. These coins are only worth a nominal amount in average condition.
• If it doesn’t stick, look at the “3” in the date. On a genuine 1943 cent the bottom curl of the digit points down at roughly the 7:00 position. If it points almost horizontally (i.e. the 9:00 position) you most likely have a 1948 cent where someone cut the “8” in an attempt to fake the 1943 date.
• If you can get hold of a sensitive scale, check the coin’s weight. A genuine bronze cent from that era weighs ~3.11 gm while a common 1943 steel cent is only about 2.7 gm.
If the coin passes all of those tests you should contact one of the big numismatic services like ANA or PCGS. They can make appropriate arrangements to examine your coin securely.
First of all get us nice smartphone and make a lot of videos and play some YouTube and Facebook and many other social networks using a magnet and zooming into your coin without any kind of trick just Bragg over the internet and then get in touch with your local newspaper journalist
Hi, l have one but it doesnt stick on a magnet and i want to see if its real so do you know where I can see if its real.
There is nothing stopping you making a YouTube video or Facebook video of your coin or any kind of social media video as many people have smartphones
Thank you for all of your information on the 1943 very helpful I literally have jars and jars and jars of coins quite a few older pennies nickels dimes quarters. I started collecting because I love the look years ago I have had to cash in some of my collections over the years I’ve given a lot for my nephew, but now I’m trying to find the time to go through all of my coins bound older bills or unusual bills that I have started nose silver certificates at yeah I have a whole bunch kind of exhausting just thinking about it. But I do thank you for all of your information on different coins. wish me luck I’m just examining what I do have
Thank you for all the information
I have a 1944s wheat penny .condition is not so great but I still kept it.. is it worth anything..
I have found a 1943 copper penny a little beat up and I don’t know where or how to go get it authenticated to make sure it’s real or fake whichever it may be I am in Washington State if anybody could help me to where I can contact somebody or send a picture
I found a 2021 penny with vgb on front and jfk on back
Definitely one of the best articles I have read so far about the 1943 no mint, 1943-S and the infamous 1943-D (bronze/copper) pennies and realized Munzen gave the best advice to Mr. Cowles or for anyone in this case. Thank you.
I was meaning to go to a coin shop first to have an expert advice before getting the coin professionally graded. Knowing it had passed all the criteria Munzen and other articles I had read about. I must say I have to agree with Mr. Cowles he has a valid point with a potential 6 to 7 figure $ coin in your possession why would you let it out of your site?
I have a question for you Munzen if you don’t mind answering. Which one do you believe holds more value a Copper 1943-D or a Bronze 1943-D, if found again?
Re. copper 1943 pennies: I am now 77 years old. When I was a child about 2 or 3 years old, living in a log cabin on a farm in the tip end of the Cumberland Mountain Chain in north Alabama, I very carefully kept all my scarce wealth of copper pennies in a draw-string cloth tobacco sack. Two of them were copper 1943 pennies, the REAL thing; and when my father heard of Ford’s offer of a new car for every one turned in, he went looking for my bag of pennies. He’d love to have TWO new Ford cars!! Living in that log cabin, I kept my bag of pennies in the gap between two of the logs at the head of my bed. When Dad went to get the bag of pennies, he found instead a shiny piece of scrap metal from a pack rat; as pack rats do, it traded one of its “treasures” for my bag of pennies. The pack rat took my bag of pennies back to its burrow, and Dad never located the burrow. MUCH later, my late husband and I took our metal detector to the old cabin site and scanned at least two or three acres around the old homestead — found a LOT of buried metal in the ground but no pennies, copper or otherwise. I have to rest easy with the knowledge that the old homestead, still in the family, is worth a lot more than just the value on the tax roles, if we could just find those two copper pennies!! Doesn’t matter to me how many were actually made; I just know two are not likely ever to be found.
Does this go for the Australian 1943 penny as well
No. US only.
I have a 1943 copper. Penny with a 2 stamped over the 3 has any one ever heard of this B4
I have one !
I have a 1943s looks to be stamped over 1942 it is copper
I have a 1943 copper penny (does not stick to a magnet) but it is the size of a dime. I clearly says one cent. It is a wheat penny but on the bottom of it on the back it says “copy”. Any suggestions as to what I really have?
I have a 1943 penny that is not magnetic, there’s no letter, the 3 points down. Kind of looks like a Japanese symbol upper right side (could be a scratch). Is it worth anything?
Thanks
I believe I have a 1943 D copper penny. I would like to get it authintaced. How do I do that?
I don’t know much about coin collection but I have a 1943 but it has rust and it sticks to a magnet if you can help me see if there is anything for the coin
If it’s rusty and sticks to a magnet it’s a common steel cent. The rust will reduce its value to at most a quarter, sorry to say.
I’ve got a 1943 copper penny that’s been in my family for three generations. Not sure if it’s the real deal but it doesn’t stick to a magnet and it sure looks like the pictures of the authentic ones. Now to get it authenticated is the next step. I was wanting to clean it in vinegar and salt but was indifferent about it’s to all the information that I’ve seen on the web. Any suggestions on this? And where’s the best place to authenticate my coin? Thanks!
I have a 1943 and 1942 error minted on same coin. And it’s not a fake because theirs no way to fake this one people can point coins on coins all day trying to make fakes but a minted ones are for sure real mistakes and you can tell the difference.
I have a few 1943s pennies that all stick to magnets. I am interested in possibly selling them to an interested collector or sending them to auction.
If they stick to magnets they’re steel, not copper. Unless they’re in top condition they would sell for anywhere from 25¢ to maybe $1. Too many were made and too many were saved for them to be rare.