1943 Copper Penny Value: How Much is it Worth Today?
Many people know the 1943 copper penny as a legendary and unique coin. True, the 1943 copper penny is a unique coin that serious collectors highly sought after. Because?
Because it is a temporary currency. Because there were so few examples, you can now pay a lot of money for one of these coins.
However, because it has been such a sought-after item for so long, many scammers or imitators have emerged, attempting to deceive naive people or those with little knowledge of currencies.
That is why we will tell you everything you need to know about identifying this coin in this guide. Not only will you learn about the 1943 Copper Penny Value, but you will also learn about its history and why it is considered an exceptional coin.
1943 Copper Penny Value Chart |
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| Quality | 1943 No Mint Mark Copper Penny Price | 1943 (D) Denver Copper Penny Price | 1943 (S) San Francisco Copper Penny Price |
| Good | At least $100,000 | At least $100,000 | At least $100,000 |
| Fine | At least $150,000 | At least $150,000 | At least $150,000 |
| Extremely Fine | At least $200,000 | At least $200,000 | At least $200,000 |
| Uncirculated | At least $250,000 | At least $250,000 | At least $250,000 |
The Lincoln Penny has a long history dating back to the early twentieth century. The coin was minted in 1909, at the end of Roosevelt’s presidency, and was the first to feature a president’s face.
Americans broke with tradition to mark the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. These coins were widely accepted and popular among the general public. It is a successful design that has stood the test of time, as evidenced by the continued production of the Lincoln cent.
The 1943 copper coin, on the other hand, has its unique history, which is what makes the coin so special.
Between 1942 and 1943, the United States was engulfed in the Second World War’s armed conflict. Copper’s price had risen, and it was a widely used material in warfare. Copper was used in the manufacture of weapons and military equipment.
As a result, the government decided to help the war effort by making some internal changes. It was decided to change the composition of the penny. Previously, one-cent coins were 95% copper and 5% zinc.
The coins were ordered to be made of steel with a copper coating. However, there were residues of previously used copper in the minting machines of the three mints.
As a result, the first coins minted were entirely made of copper, and these are the coins discussed in this article.
Contrary to the majority of 1943 pennies, which are made of steel. The total number of copper pennies minted is unknown. Over time, approximately 40 coins have been discovered, half of which originate in Philadelphia and the other half in Denver and San Francisco mints.
Because these coins are one-of-a-kind, a single one can fetch thousands of dollars. It is known that those in better condition have sold in the millions.
1943 No Mint Mark Copper Penny Value
To understand the significance of the 1943 copper coin, we must dispel a few myths about it.
Many people believe that this was an error coin, and some stories even claim that these coins were never official.
The truth is that millions of penny coins were minted in 1943, but not all of them are made of pure copper.
The copper was removed from one-cent coins to allocate all of that metal to the war front in the various arms resources for those who used copper.
However, there were copper shards left on the minting plates. As a result, some 1943 pennies are entirely copper when they should be steel with a zinc coating.
It is unknown how many pure copper coins were minted, but it is known that no less than 40 and no more than 60 were minted, but this is a speculative number because no one knows how many pure copper coins from 1943 still exist now.
It is for this reason that a 1943 copper penny is so valuable. It is extremely difficult to find specimens in good condition, and even more difficult to find uncirculated or gem-quality coins but to give you an idea of how valuable it is, a specimen in good condition can easily cost over a hundred thousand dollars.
Half of the 40 coins whose existence is certain come from the Philadelphia Mint. The remaining 20 coins are divided between the mints in San Francisco and Denver.
This is understandable given that the majority of coins were minted in Philadelphia, the main headquarters for minting national coins, with Denver and San Francisco serving as support branches. Neither of the other two mints has been in charge of the majority of coin production in the United States.
Because the Philadelphia Mint isn’t used to stamping their coins with a mint mark, there’s no need to look for one that indicates the coin’s provenance.
Obverse
An image of Abraham Lincoln dominates the coin’s obverse. Victor David Brenner created the image. This coin is significant because it was the first to be minted for a former US President.
George Washington, the first president of the United States, strongly advised against minting real people’s faces on coins. That is why, until then, Lady Liberty was the most prominent feature on coins.
This was there for a reason. The United States had just declared independence from Britain and was betting on a completely different form of government.
That is why, as European monarchies did, minting someone’s face on a coin contradicted the ideas that inspired the American revolution and independence.
Lincoln’s profile face was first used in 1909 and has remained popular to this day. The obverse has never changed, but the reverse has undergone several changes.
The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST appears on the coin’s upper edge. The word LIBERTY is also read on the left side of the coin, just at the height of Lincoln’s back, and the year of minting is found on the right side.
As previously stated, coins from the Philadelphia mint do not have a mint mark; however, for coins from other mints, the mint mark is below the mint date.
Reverse
The reverse of this coin has undergone numerous changes over time, but the original Victor David Brenner design remains on the 1943 copper penny.
It was not originally intended to have two stalks of wheat on the reverse, but rather some designs with an eagle. However, because there was a law prohibiting the use of the eagle’s image on pennies, the proposal had to be reworked.
The mint had recently experienced issues with the elaborate designs of some coins, so they chose a very simple and practical style.
That is why the reverse is so straightforward, with two ears of wheat on each side and the words ONE CENT in the center.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA can be read below the words One Cent. The Latin phrase “E PLURIBUS UNUM” appears at the top of the coin.
This phrase translates to “one of many”. It is a motto found on the majority of US coins.
Value
If you are fortunate enough to possess a genuine copper penny, you have a large sum of money. Because there are so few copies, even coins that are not well preserved or have been in circulation are extremely valuable.
To give you an idea, a coin that has been in circulation and has a good degree of conservation can sell for no less than $100,000.
With these coins, each degree of conservation represents significantly more money. Each higher grade of preservation can cost $50,000 or more.
The coins that have never been in circulation are extremely rare, which is why they cost at least $250,000 each. A very high-quality demented coin sold for $1,700,000 was the most expensive specimen.
New copies have not appeared in a long time, but it is estimated that the same coin that sold for nearly $200,000 now easily exceeds that figure.
1943 San Francisco (S) Copper Penny Value
The San Francisco mint also produced copper pennies, but it is known that half of the 40 coins on record are from San Francisco and Denver, implying that San Francisco produced an average of ten coins.
The price is not much higher than Philadelphia coins, in acceptable qualities it costs about the same, but if you own an uncirculated coin in the high mint condition it may be worth more than Philadelphia coins.
Look for the letter S just below the year of issue to identify a coin from the San Francisco mint.
Value
A coin in good condition that has been in circulation for a long time is worth at least $100,000. A million dollars has been paid for an uncirculated specimen in high gem condition.
San Francisco specimens are so rare that every collector wishes to own one.
1943 Denver (D) Copper Penny Value
Denver produced 25% of the 40 registered coins that exist, or 10 or fewer. That is why they are highly sought after and well compensated in the market.
Look for the D mintmark just below the date of minting to identify a Denver coin.
Value
In good condition, one of these coins costs between $100,000 and 150,000 dollars.
This uncirculated, high gem quality coin has fetched the highest price of $1.5 million. However, it is now known that that sum would be higher.
1943 Copper Penny Grading
Understanding and distinguishing the degrees of a coin is essential for determining its true value. The 1943 copper penny is a scarce coin on the market, so even in low grades, it will be expensive.
However, you must be able to distinguish all of its peculiarities and ensure that it is true. To assist you, we have included a video in which you can learn all about this coin in detail.
Rare 1943 Copper Penny Error List
1943 copper pennies are so rare that it is very difficult to determine if there is a pattern of error in any of the coins.
Only one error has been registered in one of the 40 coins registered so far. As you might imagine, a copper coin with an error is made into a unique specimen and its value can increase considerably.
1943 Copper Penny with Die on Obverse
A 1943 copper coin from Philadelphia was registered in 2017 with a visible matrix break at the bottom of the obverse.
The coin is uncirculated in demented state MS 62 and is worth 575,000 thousand dollars.
1943 Copper Penny FAQ
What is the error on a 1943 rare copper penny?
There are no flaws in the 1943 copper coin. However, there were remnants of the 1942 coins that were entirely silver at the start of production. The 1943 coins were made of steel and zinc, but the first to be minted were made of pure copper thanks to remnants left in the machines.
How do I know if my 1943 penny is valuable?
The two ways to tell if your penny is pure copper and valuable are to weigh it and examine its shine. Copper coins are heavier than 3 grams, whereas steel coins are not.
When exposed to light, copper coins shine brightly. You can also use a magnet to see if the coin sticks. If the coin reacts to the magnet, it is made of steel and is therefore worthless.
You must exercise extreme caution when dealing with the market’s abundance of counterfeits. Many con artists collect 1948 coins. The real 1943 coin has an out-of-proportion 3 while the counterfeits have a properly proportioned 3. This is due to the change in the typography of the letter that the coin had over the years.
