Check Your Change Michigan - This Penny Could Be Worth a Lot!

Finding this rare penny could put a substantial amount of money in your pocket.

The next time you have a handful of change or are cleaning out your piggy bank, be sure to scan the pennies. If you happen to come across one from 1943, you could be sitting on more than just one cent.

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Due to World War II, the composition of pennies being made by the U.S. Mint was changed to steel and zinc, instead of copper, zinc, and tin. In 1943, the U.S. Mint made 1.1 billion of these steel pennies. This change saved 40,000 pounds of tin that was then used in the war effort. The copper that was saved was then manufactured into 1.25 million artillery shells.

According to some coin experts, it is suggested that one-cent, copper-alloy blanks were left in the press hopper when production started on the new 1943 steel pennies. Those particular pennies are now much more valuable and are sought after by many coin collectors. It is speculated that only around 40 of these 1943 copper-alloy cents remain in existence.

US Mint

Many of these pennies have been sold for a lot of money in the years following. So of those sales are as follows:

1958 - Copper cent sold for $40,000 (first one offered for sale)
1981 - Copper cent sold for $10,000 (sold at an ANA convention)

According to the United States Mint, the highest amount ever paid for one of these 1943 pennies was $82,500 in 1996. However, other sources have listed the value of these coins today to vary between $100,000 and $250,000.

How do you identify at 1943 copper penny?

Because of their value, many people have tried to make counterfeit copies of this coin. Here are some ways to identify if the one you have is real or not:

Use a magnet. If the penny does not stick to it, that coin may be made of copper.
Weigh it. A 1943 copper penny should weigh 3.1 grams.
Have the coin authenticated by a third-party grading service.

I feel bad for my piggy bank as she is getting broken tonight. Good luck.

Source: US Mint and The National WWII Museum

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