Lincoln Wheat Penny: A rare 1943 Lincoln penny made of copper could be worth up to $99 million, and some experts think a few of these coins are still out there in people’s pockets or coin jars. Coin collectors and regular folks are rushing to check their collections for this super valuable treasure. This penny is one of the most exciting finds in American coin history because it’s so rare and was never meant to be made.
During World War II, the U.S. needed copper for things like bullet casings, so the Mint decided to make pennies out of steel coated with zinc in 1943. These steel pennies look silver and shiny. But, by mistake, a few copper pieces from 1942 got left in the machines and were stamped with the 1943 date. Only about 20 of these copper pennies exist, making them a huge deal for collectors. One in perfect condition might sell for $99 million today, which could make it one of the most valuable coins ever.
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Most 1943 pennies you’ll find are silver-colored because they’re made of steel. But if you find one that looks like a normal brown copper penny with “1943” on it, you might be holding something worth millions.
How to Check If Your 1943 Penny Is the Real Deal
Here’s how you can tell if your penny is the ultra-rare copper version:
- Look at the color: A real 1943 copper penny will be brown, not silver.
- Try the magnet test: Steel pennies stick to magnets, but copper pennies don’t.
- Check the weight: A copper penny weighs 3.11 grams, while a steel one is lighter (about 2.7 grams).
Some people try to fake these coins by painting steel pennies or changing the dates on other pennies. If you think you found one, take it to experts like the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC). They use special tests to make sure it’s real. Don’t assume it’s worth millions until they check it.
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The History Behind the Million-Dollar Penny
The 1943 copper penny tells a story about America during the war. Copper was super important, so the Mint switched to steel pennies, making over a billion of them. People didn’t like these coins because they looked like dimes, rusted fast, and didn’t work in vending machines. By 1944, the Mint went back to copper. The few copper pennies from 1943 were mistakes from this change.
Most were found in the 1940s and 1950s. A teenager named Don Lutes Jr. found one in his school cafeteria change in 1947, and it sold for $204,000 in 2019. Another sold for over $1.7 million in 2010. With fewer coins left and prices going up, experts say a perfect one could hit $99 million.
