How to Spot A Rare Copper Penny Worth Thousands of Dollars
How do you spot a rare copper penny? There are several pennies that should be held on to, one of which is the 1943 copper penny which could be worth thousands of dollars!
Most pennies are copper, except for the 1943 war-time “steelies”. In 1942, the US Mint stopped production of the copper penny due to war time ammunition supply needs. Instead pennies were struck using steel plates and dipped in zinc. Unfortunately, the zinc corrodes over time leaving a dull steel color.
What about the 1943 Copper Penny? There are a few coins that were made on copper plates by mistake. It is believed that the original seized copper plates were mixed in with the steel plates in error and when shipped from the different minting locations the 1943 Copper Penny was accidentally processed. These coins are few and far between and worth thousands, one of the last ones to be sold at auction brought in $85,000.
How to spot a rare 1943 Copper Penny:
You have a sock full of pennies that your grandparents saved – some are dated 1943 and copper colored. Some of the original “Steelies” were taken and dipped in copper after the war as a novelty item, then used by mistake and have become mixed in with legitimate Lincoln cents.
How do you know if your copper penny, dated 1943, is the real deal? Grab a magnet. If it’s copper-plated steel, the magnet will pick it up. These pennies are worth about 15 cents. If the magnet doesn’t pick it up, check the date:
Think you may have found a 1943 Copper Penny? The Spruce has some great tips on getting it authenticated! Happy Hunting!
