The 1943 Copper Penny is a rare and highly sought-after coin that was minted in the United States during World War II. A small number of copper pennies were mistakenly produced. These pennies are highly valuable due to their scarcity and historical significance.
The 1943 copper penny is among the rarest coins and has a fascinating history, thus becoming one of the most expensive coins. 1943 copper pennies can value as low as $100,000 up to millions depending on grading conditions.
Key Takeaways
- The 1943 copper pennies are one of the most valuable coins. At auctions, the average price of a 1943 copper penny ranges from as low as $100,000 to $250,000 in average condition.
- At PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service), the graded 1943 copper penny can be valued from $1 million to $1.5 million.
- You can use a magnet to identify a genuine 1943 copper penny – counterfeits will stick on the magnet while genuine coins won’t.
Many people deem the 1943 copper penny as mint error coins because most coins during World War II incorporated zinc-coated steel. During mintage, some copper planchets were struck, releasing a few units of the 1943 copper pennies. Approximately 40 pieces of the 1943 copper pennies were produced, with only 27 estimated to be in existence. Due to their rarity, collectors can dupe coin lovers with fake penny versions.
Comprehending the 1943 copper penny’s approximate value is imperative to attain the best price. Follow the guide below as we elaborate more on factors affecting the 1943 copper penny value, how to determine its authenticity and the historical production context. Let’s dive in!
You can use a magnet to identify a genuine 1943 copper penny – counterfeits will stick on the magnet while genuine coins won’t.
Related: What Quarters Are Worth Money? List of Rare Quarters
Table of Contents
- 1 1943 Copper Penny Value
- 2 Historical Context on Production
- 3 1943 Copper Penny How Many Made
- 4 How do you know if you have a 1943 Copper Penny?
- 5 1943 Copper Penny $1.7 Million
- 6 What is the 1943 Copper Penny Worth in 2023?
- 7 How Many 1943 Copper Pennies are in Existence?
- 8 How to Tell if a 1943 Copper Penny is Real?
- 9 Conclusion
1943 Copper Penny Value
Did you know finding a 1943 copper penny in your coin box would be a life changer? Coming across a 1943 copper penny is like mining gold, as you can sell it to make a fortune. Today, a 1943 copper cent can fetch approximately $100,000 to $250,000 in an auction. Below is an auction value chart showcasing various prices of the 1943 copper penny:
| Mint Mark | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1943 Copper penny with No Mint Mark | $100,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 |
| 1943 ‘S’ Copper penny | $100,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 |
| 1943 ‘D’ Copper penny | $100,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 |
The first 1943 copper penny offered for sale took place in 1958, pricing for over $40,000. A subsequent sale in 1981 at ANA Convention sold the piece for $10,000. It was until 1996 that a 1943 copper cent sold for $82,500.
Various 1943 copper pennies from different mints can vary in value regarding condition and marks. Grading companies grade the 1943 copper pennies to value as follows:
Related: 1899 Indian Head Penny Value
1943 No Mint Mark Copper Penny
The Philadelphia mint produced the No Mint Mark copper penny. Grading services value a good grade (G4) 1943 no mint mark copper cent from Philadelphia at $100,000. In excellent condition, No Mint mark copper cent can sell for at least $250,000.
Related: 1944 Wheat Penny Value – A Complete Guide
1943-S Copper Penny
The 1943 “S” copper penny is a production of the San Francisco mint. Due to its high rarity, the uncirculated and best-condition penny goes for $1 million. The lowest grade (G4) ‘S’ copper penny value for as low as $100,000.
1943-D Copper Penny
The 1943 ‘D’ copper cent was released from the Denver mint, and they are rated to have the best prices. A low-grade 1943-D copper penny costs as much as $100,000, whereas a fine-state coin can cost roughly $150,000. The highest mint grade of 1943-D copper penny values at $1.7 million with a possibility of higher bids.
Historical Context on Production
The 1943 copper pennies have a sweet and exciting history. The US Mint struck the 1943 copper coins during World War II. It was in 1942 when the government passed a law to temporarily change the metal composition of Lincoln cents. Mintages of new coins used zinc-coated steel to save copper and tin required for the armory for American troops in Europe and Japan.
Within the year, the three US Mints struck billions of 1943 steel Lincoln wheat pennies using steel. But during minting, some copper planchets were struck by artisans. The striking wasn’t an intentional error, as the artisans left copper planchets in the hoppers during steel coin mintage.
The three US Mints released a few units (40) of the pennies, making them a subject of attention and rare to trace. In 1944, a dealer traced an extra fine 1943 copper penny sold for around $40,000.
Because of its rarity, coin collectors and the public gained interest in knowing why the coins were so rare. This curiosity led to an appreciation of the 1943 copper penny in the coinage market.
Related: The 1959 Penny Value in 2023
1943 Copper Penny How Many Made
It was until the 1950s that credible reports emerged regarding the copper-plated pieces. The three US Mints (Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco) released 40 coins of the 1943 copper pennies, hence they were regarded as rare. The Philadelphia mint released 20 units of the 1943 copper pennies, whereas Denver and San Francisco released the rest of the pieces.
How do you know if you have a 1943 Copper Penny?
The 1943 copper penny is a scarce mint worth a lot of money; hence, determining its authenticity is crucial. As a result of its appreciating value, the 1943 copper cent has lots of copper coated steel counterfeit cents. Other counterfeits feature altered dates of years such as 1945, 1948, and 1949 pennies.
If you have one of the rare 1943 Lincoln copper pennies, you can send it to a third-party grading service for encapsulation and authentication. But before you send the coin out for authentication, here is how to know to distinguish a counterfeit from the original penny:
- Ability to stick to a magnet: If your 1943 copper cent attracts a magnet, it’s a typical 1943 silver penny. If it doesn’t stick, it may be a rare copper penny and its authenticity requires expertise from a reputable third-party grading service.
- The weight of the 1943 cent: Use a scale that measures down to at least tenth-of-a-gram increments to prevent rounding off. A typical 1943 rare copper penny weighs approximately 3.11 grams, whereas the steel coin weighs about 2.7 grams.
- The physical appearance of number 3: The 1943 copper penny should incorporate similar shapes of letters and numbers like a 1943 steel cent. Any visible variance could portray alteration in appearance to look like a 1943 copper coin.
- Coin diameter: A 1943 copper penny measures 19 millimeters (0.75 inches) in diameter. It has a thickness of 1.55 mm (0.061 inches).
Related: 1909 S VDB Penny Value
1943 Copper Penny $1.7 Million
Can you imagine a coin appreciating its value close to 1000% in seven years? During a public sale, Goldberg Auctioneers sold a 1943 copper coin for $212,750 in 2003. Later in 2010, the same coin was sold for $1,750,000. The unique-D 1943 copper cent holds the record for the highest price. PCGS graded the coin as an MS64 Brown penny.
Related: 1964 D Penny – Features, Errors, And Value
What is the 1943 Copper Penny Worth in 2023?
It isn’t easy to trace a 1943 copper penny; hence if you come across one, you can sell it for thousands to millions of dollars, no matter its condition. The worth of a 1943 copper penny is affected by its rarity and trace demands.
PCGS graded 1943 and 1943-S copper pennies valued at $1 million, whereas the 1943-D copper penny was valued at $1.5 million. At the auction, the 1943 copper penny goes for as low as $100,000 up to $250,000.
How Many 1943 Copper Pennies are in Existence?
Only 40 units of the 1943 copper penny left the three US Mints. Currently, PCGS has a record of about 27 1943 copper pennies in existence. Approximately 13 pieces are still missing. Among the graded 1943 copper pennies include six 1943 S copper pennies and the unique 1943-D copper penny.
How to Tell if a 1943 Copper Penny is Real?
A 1943 copper penny integrates a brown appearance. 1943 Copper penny incorporates 95% copper and 5% zinc metal; thus, you can confirm its attraction ability using a magnet. The coin won’t stick on a magnet.
Alternatively, you can use a magnifying lens to check if the number 3 on the penny has rubbed edges. A copper penny with a sanded edge is an engraved coin from the 1948 version.
Related: Pennies Worth Money: Discover the Hidden Fortune in Your Pocket
Conclusion
The 1943 copper penny has great value because of its rarity; thus, checking authenticity is critical to help deal with counterfeits. Can a genuine 1943 copper penny stick on a magnet? Absolutely not! Its mintage wasn’t an intentional mistake; hence, you can fetch at least $100,000 for the 1943 copper penny in the auction market. Graded copper pennies can sell up to millions of dollars depending on the mint status and condition of the coin.
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2 comments
Where hay quien celed the Penny silver Penny
I have a 1943 copper wheat penny. I had no idea they are worth that much. I would like some help getting it authenticated. It does not stick to even the strongest magnet, the print is authentic and the approximate weight and size are a match. And it sounds different, almost a hollow sound. There is no mint mark. I’m not sure where to start or who to talk to. I also have a couple 1945 wheat pennies. One is minted D and the other has no mint. I’m not sure about those two. I haven’t studied them enough.
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