Imagine pulling a single penny from a drawer and discovering it’s worth more than most people’s cars. That’s not hype — that’s the reality of the 1943 copper penny error, one of the most legendary mistakes in U.S. coin history. While millions of 1943 “steelies” were minted to save copper during World War II, a tiny number of bronze planchets slipped through and got struck with 1943 dates. The result? A forbidden copper 1943 Lincoln cent that collectors will pay insane money for.
These ultra-rare 1943 bronze pennies are the ultimate treasure hunt for anyone sorting through old wheat penny rolls, jars, or estate collections. Here’s why one could change your life overnight:
- Fewer than 20 confirmed examples exist across all three mints (Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco)
- Recent sales have soared past $200,000–$300,000 for nice examples
- The record price stands at $1.7 million (2010) and $1 million+ again in 2019
- Even heavily circulated, authentic pieces still bring $100,000+ at auction
How to Tell If Your 1943 Penny Error Is the Real Bronze Million-Dollar Mistake Fakes are everywhere, but you can spot a genuine 1943 copper penny in under a minute:
- Weigh it — real bronze 1943 pennies tip the scale at 3.11 grams (steel pennies are 2.7 grams)
- Magnet test — authentic 1943 copper pennies will NOT stick to a magnet
- Color check — look for natural reddish-brown bronze, not shiny gold plating or altered steel cents
- Examine the date with a 10x loupe — many fakes are 1943 steel pennies with an “8” added to a 1943 dated coin
The rarest of the rare:
- 1943 (no mint mark) — about 10–12 known
- 1943-D (Denver) — only ONE confirmed example exists
- 1943-S (San Francisco) — roughly 5–6 known
More 1943 Penny Errors and Off-Metal Mistakes That Pay Big While the copper 1943 reigns supreme, these related errors are also hiding in collections:
- 1943 steel pennies struck on bronze planchets from earlier years (extremely rare)
- 1944 steel pennies (opposite error — steel leftover into 1944) — $50,000–$375,000
- Transitional errors from other years that slip through the cracks
The bottom line in 2025: Never spend or throw away a 1943 penny without checking it first. That one wartime mistake sitting in your change jar could be the most valuable penny in existence.
Found a suspicious 1943 penny? Share your story below — you might already be holding the rare coin everyone dreams about!