What was 1943 penny made of?

What was 1943 penny made of?

1943 steel cents are U.S. one-cent coins that were struck in steel due to wartime shortages of copper. The Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints each produced these 1943 Lincoln cents….1943 steel cent.

Composition 99% steel with a thin layer of zinc
Years of minting 1943
Catalog number
Obverse
Design Abraham Lincoln

What was unusual about 1943 pennies?

The Rare 1943 Penny If your 1943 penny is made out copper, it is worth quite a bit of money, generally $10,000 or more! The reason is that the 1943 copper penny is an error coin. The United States Mint accidentally used the wrong kind of planchet metal when striking the coin.

How has the composition of a penny changed through history?

The cent’s composition was changed in 1982 because the value of the copper in the coin started to rise above one cent. Some 1982 pennies used the 97.5% zinc composition, while others used the 95% copper composition.

What makes a 1943 steel penny rare?

1943 Steel Cent Value This off-metal transitional error was accidentally struck when a few leftover 1942 copper planchets were fed through the presses at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco Mints. The 1943 copper cents are extremely rare and valuable.

How do I know if my 1943 penny is bronze?

The easiest way to determine if a 1943 cent is made of steel, and not copper, is to use a magnet. If it sticks to the magnet, it is not copper. If it does not stick, the coin might be of copper and should be authenticated by an expert.

What is a 1943 steel penny worth today?

Value of a 1943 Steel Penny They are worth about 10 to 13 cents each in circulated condition, and as much as 50 cents or more if uncirculated.

Why is a 1943 penny so valuable?

After the war ended, the Mint began to produce copper pennies again. However, in 1943, the Mint produced a few copper pennies. One possible reason for this is because the copper plates were accidentally left in a few machines. While the 1943 steel pennies are worth a few bucks, the rare copper version is worth more.

What year did the composition of the penny change Why did it change?

In 1982, the fast-rising price of copper forced the U.S. Mint to change the composition of the penny to primarily zinc, with pure copper plating. This change allowed the “copper” penny to retain its traditional appearance.

How did the composition of the penny change in the 1980’s?

The alloy remained 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc until 1982, when the composition was changed to 97.5 percent zinc and 2.5 percent copper (copper-plated zinc). Cents of both compositions appeared in that year. The penny’s original design was suggested by Ben Franklin.

What 1943 steel penny is worth the most?

A 1943 Lincoln penny that soared in value because it was made from the “wrong” material reportedly has sold for $1 million. The penny was erroneously made of bronze instead of zinc-coated steel at the San Francisco Mint, according to UPI news agency.

How do you know if a coin is bronze?

But with a few simple tools, one can easily tell the difference.

  1. Take a look at the color of the coin. Bronze coins are typically a deep-brown color, or at least a variant of brown.
  2. Weigh the coin.
  3. Learn the standard weight for the coin.
  4. Compare the weight of the coin with the standard weight.

What’s so special about 1943 copper penny?

According to the American Numismatic Association, the 1943 copper-alloy cent is one of the most idealized and potentially one of the most sought-after items in American numismatics. Nearly all circulating pennies at that time were struck in zinc-coated steel because copper and nickel were needed for the Allied war effort.

How rare is a 1943 Lincoln Steel Penny?

Despite the widely held misnomer by many non-collectors that 1943 Lincoln Steel cents are rare and valuable, these coins were struck in huge numbers and are relatively inexpensive in all but the highest uncirculated grades. All told, the United States Mint struck nearly 1.1 billion zinc-coated steel cents in 1943.

What is the value of a 1943 stainless steel Penny?

Even if your 1943 penny is made of steel, it could be worth more than its face value. In fact, a steel 1943 penny is worth up to 50 cents.

What’s is the 1944 penny value?

1944 Lincoln Penny Value Condition of Coin; Date Good Fine Extremely Fine Uncirculated 1944 Lincoln Penny Value Up-Dated 2021 1944 $0.02 $0.02 $0.04 $0.52 1944 D $0.02 $0.02 $0.04 $0.76 1944 S $0.03 $0.03 $0.05 $1.26