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.
How do I know if my 1943 penny is copper?
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.
What is the value of a 1943 copper penny?
There are few coins as popular as the 1943 copper penny, an extremely rare mint error that is worth a lot of money. The 1943 bronze Lincoln cent first came to light in the mid-1940s and quickly took the numismatic world by storm. During this time, the United States Mint was striking pennies from zinc-coated steel planchets.
What are the odds of finding a 1943 Lincoln cent?
Today, the 1943 bronze Lincoln cent is described as “the most famous error coin in American numismatics” — and the odds of finding one are astronomically against. Stone estimates that 15 to 20 are known to collectors today, although it’s possible that there are a few that have not yet been accounted for.
When did they change the composition of pennies?
Valuable Pennies. Pennies Dated Before 1982. In mid-1982, the composition was changed to 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper. Previous issues were 95% copper. The composition was changed because the 95% copper coins contained more than a cents worth of copper making them too expensive to produce.
When did the bronze Lincoln Penny come out?
The 1943 bronze Lincoln cent first came to light in the mid-1940s and quickly took the numismatic world by storm. During this time, the United States Mint was striking pennies from zinc-coated steel planchets.