1943 Zinc-Coated Steel Penny

1943 Zinc-Coated Steel Penny

It was the middle of The War and they were running short of copper, that's why.

UPDATE: The 1943 Copper Penny Is Worth $40,000 Or More

1943 Copper Penny

From the US Mint:

40 1943 copper-alloy cents are known to remain in existence.  Coin experts speculate that they were struck by accident when copper-alloy 1-cent blanks remained in the press hopper when production began on the new steel pennies.

A 1943 copper cent was first offered for sale in 1958, bringing more than $40,000.  A subsequent piece sold for $10,000 at an ANA convention in 1981.  The highest amount paid for a 1943 copper cent was $82,500 in 1996.

Because of its collector value, the 1943 copper cent has been counterfeited by coating steel cents with copper or by altering the dates of 1945, 1948, and 1949 pennies.

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.

UPDATE: For the values of wheat pennies, please go to sammler.com, pcgs.com, or any one of the other coin sites on the internet.

Comments

[Martha Vallier]

I just ran across a lincoln head with wheat back silver or zinc wierd looking penny. 1943
Is it worth anything?

[David]

I would like the name of the museum that offered the person 45,000.USD for the 1943 steel head penny

Thanks david

[David]

I would like the name of the museum that offered the person 45,000.USD for the 1943 steel head penny

Thanks david

[omar]

I have a zinc-plated steel penny from 1943, i would like to know how much is it worth

[brandy]

i have a 1943 penny it looks black but i am not sure if its just aged...it doesnt not have a letter under the date ..what is it worth?

[jason]

i too have this 1943 silver penny, and i would like to know the value of this penny. if any one could email me that would be great.
thank you

[kimberly]

i have a penny 1943 penny just like in the picture and i would like to know how nuch its worth

[mya]

i have a copper 1943 penny and i have 2 silver 1943 pennies that look like the one in the picture.. and i have a 1920 penny.. can anyone tell me how much theyre worth.. thanks alot

[Bobby Moore]

If the 1943 silver penny is worth approx. $45,000
who do you contact to authenticate it?

[jack]

i have a penny 1943 penny just like in the picture and i would like to know how much its worth

[Paul]

The steel (silver) 1943 penny is worth about fifty cents. The copper 1943 is worth thousands. Any other wheatback pennies are worth a cent. I find them in circulation all the time. Why does no one read what's already been written here?

[Tom McMahon]

Paul, you've hit upon one of the Great Mysteries of Life I've discovered by running this blog!

[paul]

My father recently passed away; finding 3 bags of pennies in belonging, I found 30's 40's 50's. In the "40's" bag were 21 of the 1943 zinc pennies. But I noticed out of all those coins, there were only (2) 1947 pennies. Was this year any different in production? There are approximately 20 sets ranging from 1930 - 1959.
paul

[Stephen]

I have a 1945 wheat cent. how much is it worth?

[Doug]

I also have a 1945 wheat cent. I want to know how much thoses are worth.

[Mikel Kozak]

I have a shiney silverish looking 1981 penny. Can anyone tell me what it's worth?

[Scott]

wow newbs u guys are so damn dumb noone reads just stfu plz and stop crying ur 1943 silver penny = junk
gg pubs
~Scott McPherson

[andrew]

who the hell calls people newbs on a site about pennies? ...your fucking gay scott, how about you stfu with making your gay ass comments to people like "newbs"? hahaha your gay as hell kid, do yourself a favor and don't post on blogs 'cause you look liek a fucking moron... thank you :) andrew biatch

[justin]

I have a 1943 weat penny but their ant a letter under the date can any one tell me how muck that one in worth. justin

[Josue Torrez]

I have a 1943 zinc coated steel pennie but I dont have know body too contact too and I will like a number or e mail son I can contac a colector because I'll like to sale it. Plaese contact me.

[mike]

if anyone has a 1943 wheat penny not silver but the regular copper one email me i would like to buy it but i do not want the silver one

[karen kane]

i have 3 silver wheat pennies one is blank at the bottom the other 2 have an S and D i also have all of them from 1941 to 1949D i also have from 1950 to 1953S and then 1954D to1955 D and then 1956 to 1960D and then on my other stuff i have1909 and 1916 and 1916D and 1917 and 1918 and1919 and 1919 S and 1920 1923 1925 1936 1927 1928 1928D 1929 and 1929D 1930 1934 1935 1935D 1936 1937 D AND S 2 1938 and 1938D 1939 1939S 1940 D and S

i just want to know how muth all of them are worth and the numbers that are missing like when i skiped some kind of numbers i dont have them i just wanna know how much they are worth

i also have all 3 silver wheat pennies and stuff like that and i just wanna know HOW MUCH IS ALL OF THEM WORTH SEPERATLY?

[jonathan]

i have a silver 1959 lincoln penny is that possible mr. tom mcmahon

[ricardo]

i have a magnetic steel penny i want to see how much i could sell it for

[ricardo]

i have the 1907 indian head penny ,i have a 1947 penny,a 1911 penny, a 1955 penny ,and the 1943 stell penny i want to know how much i could get for them.