If you’ve ever dug through old jars of change or inherited a coffee can full of pennies from grandpa, stop everything. One tiny mistake on a common Wheat Penny could turn those dusty coppers into a five- or even six-figure payday. We’re talking about the legendary 1943 Copper Wheat Penny — the holy grail of Lincoln Wheat cent errors that still hides in circulation and attic stashes.
Most people know the famous story: In 1943, the U.S. Mint switched to zinc-coated steel pennies to save copper for World War II. But a handful of planchets (blank coins) from 1942 somehow got mixed in and were accidentally struck with the 1943 dies. The result? Ultra-rare copper 1943 Wheat Pennies that should never exist.
Here’s why collectors lose their minds over this Wheat Penny error:
- Only about 10–15 genuine examples are known to exist
- A PCGS MS-63 Brown sold for $282,000 in 2021
- The finest known example (PCGS MS-64 Brown) brought a jaw-dropping $1.7 million in 2010
- Even lower-grade, problem-free examples routinely sell for $100,000–$300,000+
How to Spot a Real 1943 Copper Wheat Penny Error (Don’t Get Fooled!) Counterfeits flood eBay daily, but you can authenticate yours in seconds:
- Pick it up with tweezers — a real bronze 1943 penny weighs 3.11 grams (steel ones are only 2.7 grams)
- Do the magnet test — genuine 1943 copper pennies are NOT magnetic
- Look for the correct copper color — not gold-plated or altered 1943 steel cents
- Check the date under magnification — re-engraved dates are common fakes
Pro tip: The Philadelphia Mint version has no mint mark under the date. The ultra-rare 1943-D copper (only ONE confirmed) and 1943-S copper (maybe 5–6 known) are worth even more.
Other Insane Wheat Penny Errors That Can Make You Rich While in 2025, the 1943 copper still reigns supreme, but keep an eye out for these runners-up:
- 1955 Doubled Die Obverse — “King of Lincoln Errors” ($1,000–$125,000+)
- 1944 Steel Penny (off-metal error) — $50,000–$375,000
- 1922 No D (missing mint mark, strong examples) — $15,000–$100,000+
- 1936 Doubled Die Obverse — up to $50,000 in high grade
Bottom line: Before you toss that old Wheat Penny roll in the trash, grab a magnet and a scale. That one overlooked Lincoln cent hiding in plain sight could be your ticket to early retirement.
Have you ever found a rare Wheat Penny error? Drop your story in the comments — you never know who might be sitting on a million-dollar copper mistake!