1943 copper penny | rare coins | Austin Coins (2024)

FAQs

How much is a copper 1943 penny worth? ›

The 1943 copper penny is worth more than its face value. Due to its rarity and unique composition, this coin can fetch a high price of $100,000 to $250,000.

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.

1943 Wheat Penny (back)

There was still material left in the mint presses from the 1942 production so they accidentally made one batch out of copper. Only about 20-40 of those pennies are out there. A used one, as most are, can net you from $100,000 – $500,000.

Here's the magic part (drumroll please). If a penny sticks to the magnet, check the date. A 1943 circulated penny that sticks is worth 10 cents or so.

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.

Try picking your coin up with a magnet. If your coin is attracted to the magnet, it is made of copper-plated steel (a fraud). If the magnet does not attract your coin, it may be made of bronze and you should have the coin authenticated to determine if it is the "real deal".

Average value

According to Gainesville Coins, most circulated 1943 steel pennies trade for around 10 to 25 cents each. Uncirculated examples can be worth $1 to $5, with top-level specimens in Mint State-67 or better sometimes fetching hundreds or even thousands of dollars​ (Gainesville Coins)​.

The reason 1943 copper pennies are so rare is that all of them would have been released by error into the coin supply. The pennies minted that year, during World War II, were supposed to be steel so that more copper could be used in the manufacturing of war materials.

1. 1856 Flying Eagle Cent. The 1856 Flying Eagle Cent is one of the most rare and valuable pennies and is well worth seeking out. Only an estimated 1000 were struck by the US Mint as an unauthorized pattern coin in 1856, though the exact amount is unknown.

The 1943 copper penny is extremely rare - it is estimated that no more than 40 of them were minted, and at the last count 13 were known to exist.

How much is a 1943 copper penny worth today? ›

For a Lincoln cent, however, the 1943 copper penny is extremely valuable, with circulated examples selling at auction in the past two years bringing between $240,000 and $336,000. The unique 1943-D copper penny is held in a longterm collection and carries an estimated value of over one million dollars.

There are only about a dozen authentic 1943 bronze cents that have been documented. Here is how to determine if your coin is worth $1 or $100,000. Even a small magnet will easily stick to any 1943 penny made of steel.

1943 Copper Pennies Are Insanely Valuable

A small handful of pennies produced in 1943 were mistakenly made with the normal bronze alloy containing 95% copper and 5% tin. The 1943 copper penny is extremely rare and valuable. Only a couple dozen pieces were made and exist today, and each is worth about $100,000.

With few exceptions, copper coins in the U.S. mean one-cent pennies — usually those featuring Abraham Lincoln. The most valuable Lincoln penny is worth $2 million on the collectibles market, and many more are worth five or six figures. The value of copper coins, as in all coins, is based on scarcity and condition.

Each penny from this period weighs approximately 10.89 grams. By converting grams to pounds, we find that one pound contains just over 41.65 pennies. Multiply this number by ten, and you have the number of copper pennies required to make up 10 lbs! The answer is 453.59.