The 1943 Lincoln Copper Cent: A Rare and Valuable Coin

The 1943 Lincoln Copper Cent could fetch you a tidy sum of $82,500 if one came into your possession.

The 1943 Lincoln Copper Cent is one of the most desirable and valuable coins in the United States. At the time, the country was at war and nickel and copper were needed for the Allied effort, so pennies were produced from zinc-coated steel. There are around 40 1943 copper-alloy pennies remaining in existence and it’s speculated that they were struck by accident when one-cent blanks were left in the press hopper.

Only 40 Lincoln Copper Cents remain in existence

The American Numismatic Association (ANA) says the few 1943 cents that were minted from copper alloy are some of the most desirable and idealized in the United States. At the time, the country was at war and nickel and copper were needed for the Allied effort, so pennies were produced from zinc-coated steel. There are around 40 1943 copper-alloy pennies remaining in existence and it’s speculated that they were struck by accident when one-cent blanks were left in the press hopper.

In 1958, the first 1943 copper cent went up for sale and realized a price of $40,000. In 1981, another piece was sold at an ANA convention for $10,000. The most that a 1943 copper cent has ever fetched is $82,500 in 1996.

How to identify the real deal

Forgers have attempted to counterfeit the valuable 1943 copper cent by coating steel with copper or altering the dates on the 1945,1948, or 1949 versions. The way to tell if a coin is made of copper and not steel is to use a magnet. If it sticks, it’s made of steel. If not, it could be copper and it should be assessed by an expert.

Another coin that forgers have tried to counterfeit is the 2004-D Wisconsin Quarter Dollar with Extra Leaf High, which could fetch you over $2,000 for an original.

The historical context of World War II adds to the value

The United States Mint aimed to conserve strategically important metals during World War II by replacing the copper used to produce cents with zinc-plated steel. The steel cents are noticeably different from the copper versions in appearance, which is one of the reasons why the one-year coin is so loved by collectors.

While the war against the Axis Powers of World War II was going on, the United States was under pressure to conserve its mineral resources to manufacture munitions and weapons for not only the US Armed Forces but also allied countries such as Russia and England, among others. One reason for this is that the United States had not experienced the bombing that European allies did.

This situation meant that the government had to retain nickel and copper and even before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941, the Roosevelt Administration was aware that coins would have to be made from different materials. Production of the 1943 Lincoln Steel Cent started on February 27, 1943, and continued to the end of that year.

How to recognize a 1943 cent coin by its design

The 1943 cent piece has a distinctive design that you should be able to recognize if you come across one.

Obverse

A portrait of 16th United States President Abraham Lincoln faces right. Around the inside of the rim and above Lincoln’s head is the motto, IN GOD WE TRUST. To the left of the portrait is the word LIBERTY, and to the right and placed a bit lower down is the date. Cents produced for 1918 and subsequent years feature the designer’s initials, V.D.B., at the bottom bevel of Lincoln’s right shoulder.

Reverse

The denomination ONE CENT is placed at the top center of the reverse of the coin with each word on a separate line. Below is the inscription, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, over two lines. The motto, E PLURIBUS UNUM, with a dot between the words, is featured along the top inside a raised rim. To both the left and right of the center text, which is curved, are images of the seed head of wheat, called “wheat ears” by many, and the source for the type name.

There are a number of valuable coins in the United States that would make someone a tidy sum whether they are a collector or not, such as the US Kennedy Half Dollar, and learning to identify important features of rare coins and banknotes may make you a profit one day.