1943 Copper Penny Found?
👋 The Coin Professor recently shared another fascinating story from a viewer named Steve, who owns a complete set of wheat pennies that once belonged to his late brother. Among the collection is one coin that immediately caught everyone’s attention — a 1943 copper Lincoln penny.
Now, if you know your coins, you already understand why that’s a big deal! Let’s break down why this penny could be worth a small fortune 💰👇
🔎 Why the 1943 Copper Penny Is So Rare
In 1943, the U.S. Mint switched from copper to zinc-coated steel to conserve copper for World War II ammunition and equipment.
That means almost every 1943 penny you’ll ever see is steel gray and magnetic.
However, a few copper blanks (from 1942) accidentally got mixed in during minting — and those mistakes created one of the most legendary U.S. coin rarities ever!
💰 Value: Genuine 1943 copper pennies have sold for $200,000 to $300,000 (and sometimes more, depending on condition and mint mark).
🧠 How to Check If Yours Is Real
The Coin Professor breaks it down clearly with three essential steps:
1️⃣ Check the Weight:
A genuine copper 1943 penny weighs about 3.1 grams, while a normal 1943 steel penny weighs only 2.7 grams.
Use a digital scale for accuracy.
2️⃣ Magnet Test:
A real copper penny is non-magnetic — if it sticks to a magnet, it’s steel and not the rare version.
3️⃣ Check the Date Carefully:
Be sure it’s not a 1948 penny altered to look like 1943.
The easiest way to tell:
- On a genuine 1943 coin, the curve of the “3” sits slightly beneath the “4.”
- Many fakes are made by grinding down the “8” in a 1948 penny to look like a “3.”
⚠️ Beware of Fakes!
There are lots of counterfeit 1943 copper pennies out there — often made by plating steel pennies or altering 1948 coins.
If you think yours might be real, don’t clean it and get it professionally authenticated by a grading service like PCGS or NGC before selling or displaying it.
🧾 Coin Professor’s Closing Words
“If it’s real, it’s worth hundreds of thousands of dollars — and I’m sorry to hear about your brother passing away.”
It’s a touching reminder that sometimes, the most valuable coins aren’t just worth money — they carry deep sentimental value too ❤️.
🎥 Watch the Full Lesson
For more expert insights, tips, and examples, watch The Coin Professor’s full video on his official channel:
👉 Watch on NUMISMATICS HUB (YouTube)
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