💰 $2.6M Mystery: The 1943 Bronze Penny That Defied WWII Steel Rules

🇺🇸 The Rarest Lincoln Cent Ever Struck

In 1943, the U.S. Mint switched to steel pennies to conserve copper for WWII—but a few bronze blanks slipped through. Today, fewer than 15 exist, and one just sold for $2.6 million in a 2024 private sale.

🔍 How to Spot This Million-Dollar Error

✔ Non-Magnetic (steel pennies stick to magnets)
✔ Weighs 3.11g (vs. 2.7g for steel)
✔ Sharp “LIBERTY” lettering (no signs of plating)


🏆 Top 6 Most Valuable U.S. Coins (Sold for Over $300K!)

🥇 1. 1943 Bronze Lincoln Penny – $2.6 Million

  • Grade: PCGS MS-62
  • Why It’s Rare: Struck in 95% copper by accident during WWII
  • Recent Sale: Private sale via Legend Rare Coin Auctions (2024)

🥈 2. 1943 Bronze Lincoln Penny (Brown) – $1.7 Million

  • Grade: PCGS MS-62 Brown
  • Key Trait: Original red-brown toning, minimal wear
  • Auction Record: $1.7M at Heritage Auctions (2023)

🥉 3. 1909-S VDB Penny – $863,000

  • Grade: PCGS MS-67 Red
  • Why It’s Valuable: First-year Lincoln cent with designer’s initials (VDB)
  • Fake Alert: Many counterfeits have misplaced “S” mint marks

4️⃣ 1955 Double Die Obverse Penny – $391,000

  • Grade: PCGS MS-64
  • Key Feature: Blurred doubling on date & “LIBERTY”
  • Auction Price: $391K (2019)

5️⃣ 1870-S Seated Liberty Dollar – $375,000

  • Grade: NGC AU-53
  • Survival Count: Only 9 known
  • Secret History: Struck unofficially at San Francisco Mint

6️⃣ 1913 Liberty Head Nickel – $2.5M (Inflation-Adjusted)

  • Grade: PCGS PR-63
  • Mystery: Only 5 exist, struck illegally by a Mint employee
  • 1996 Sale: $336K (≈ $2.5M today)

🛡️ How to Avoid Fake Rare Coins

  • Weigh & Magnet Test (1943 bronze = non-magnetic, 3.11g)
  • Check Die Doubling (1955 penny has obverse-only errors)
  • Verify Mint Marks (1909-S VDB has precise spacing)

📈 Want to Sell a Rare Coin?

1️⃣ Get It Graded (PCGS/NGC authentication is a must)
2️⃣ Choose the Right Auction House (Heritage, Stack’s Bowers, Legend)
3️⃣ Prove Its History (pedigree = higher bids)


📖 Want More Coin Stories?

🔗 Read our full guides on PennyVerse.info
📥 Free Download: “Top 10 Error Coins Worth Millions”

#RareCoins #CoinCollecting #Numismatics

💬 Think you own one of these? Post photos in our expert forum for a free evaluation!

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