Recently, one particular penny has gained a lot of attention for its potential high value!
Sometimes valuable coins are hidden in plain sight, worth far more than their face value.
A 1943 copper wheat penny in perfect condition could bring in over $85,000.
KHOU spoke with Royal Coin and Jewelry, a Houston dealer specializing in rare coins, which explained that most pennies minted in 1943 were made of steel and coated in zinc to prevent rust.
As Coin Week notes, “Because copper was needed for World War II efforts, all 1943 cents were planned to be made with zinc-coated steel.”
However, during that period, a few copper blanks mistakenly went through the minting process.
These rare “mistake” coins are now valued in the five- and six-figure range
To reach $85,000, these copper wheat pennies must be in pristine condition. Even those with minor flaws still sell for around $60,000.
U.S. Mint error expert Saul Teichman explains the demand:
“1943 copper cents hold a special appeal for collectors. Their market value is far higher than other error coins from the same period.”
He also adds, “Many other World War II error coins are rarer than 1943 copper or 1944 steel cents but don’t sell for as much since they lack that unique appeal.”
The recent interest in these rare pennies has led to a rise in counterfeits.
Coin Trackers warns that some scammers alter 1948 copper pennies by filing down part of the number 8 to mimic a 1943 penny, while others take a standard steel penny and apply a copper coating.
To help identify a fake, Coin Trackers suggests testing with a magnet.
As Daily Mail UK explains, “A real copper penny won’t stick to a magnet, but a steel penny with copper plating will.” So, check your coin collection—there’s a chance you have one of these valuable pennies!
Share this with friends and family—they might have one too!