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Glam Monitor

What is the error on a 1943 steel penny?

Author

Daniel Foster

Updated on May 08, 2026

The Rare 1943 Penny

The reason is that the 1943 copper penny is an error coin. The United States Mint accidentally used the wrong kind of planchet metal when striking the coin.

What are the errors on a 1943 D steel penny?

Steel Composite Penny

One rare error of the 1943 D steel cent (penny) is the boldly doubled mintmark (RPM). The best way to identify this coin is to notice a very distinct and noticeable doubling of the "D" mint mark.

What 1943 steel penny is worth the most?

Most steel pennies are worth between 20 cents and 20 dollars. Prices for 1943 penny error coins, like the 1943-D doubled mintmark variety, can reach several hundred dollars.
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1943 Steel Cent Value

  • 1943 Philadelphia Mint cents – 684,628,670.
  • 1943-D Denver Mint cents – 217,660,000.
  • 1943-S San Francisco cents – 191,550,000.

How do I know if my 1943 penny is rare?

The easiest way to determine if a 1943 cent is made of steel, and not copper, is to use a magnet. If it sticks to the magnet, it is not copper. If it does not stick, the coin might be of copper and should be authenticated by an expert.

How much is a 1943 steel penny worth with no mint mark?

The 1943 steel penny with no mint mark is worth around $0.30 in fine condition. In very fine condition the value is around $0.35. In extremely fine condition the value is around $0.40. In uncirculated condition the price is around $2.50 for coins with an MS 63 grade.

16 related questions found

What makes a 1943 steel penny rare?

The reason is that the 1943 copper penny is an error coin. The United States Mint accidentally used the wrong kind of planchet metal when striking the coin. But very, very few of these left the U.S.

How much is a 1943 steel penny worth today?

Because they are quite common, a 1943 penny in circulated condition is not worth much. According to USA Coin Book, a steel penny from 1943 in circulated condition is worth between 16 cents and 53 cents. However, Heritage Auctions sells 1943 steel pennies in pristine, uncirculated condition for more than $1,000.

How many 1943 steel pennies are in circulation?

1.1 billion of them were struck, including 685 million 1943 steel cents, 218 million 1943-D steel pennies and 192 million 1943-S steel cents. Each was composed of 99% steel and 1% zinc rather than 95% copper and 5% zinc and tin as pennies struck before 1943 were.

What year penny is worth $1000000?

A 1943 Lincoln penny that soared in value because it was made from the "wrong" material reportedly has sold for $1 million. The penny was erroneously made of bronze instead of zinc-coated steel at the San Francisco Mint, according to UPI news agency.

How much is a 1943 steel penny worth in 2021?

Value of a 1943 Steel Penny

They are worth about 10 to 13 cents each in circulated condition and as much as 50 cents or more if uncirculated.

How much is a 1943-D copper penny worth?

How Much is it Worth? At PCGS the 1943 and 1943-S copper pennies are valued at $1 million each, while the 1943-D is listed at $1.5 million. But for a coin this rare, actual sales from auctions or private sales (when available) are the best measure of value, especially as these coins rarely come up for sale.

What steel penny is worth a lot of money?

The 1944 no mintmark steel cent only has a reported mintage of 30, in comparison to more than one million minted in 1943. In 1943, a few bronze pennies were also minted. The bronze 1943 penny is one of the rarest coins in existence, and it sold for $204,000 in an auction in 2019.

What are Lincoln pennies worth?

In fact, with the exceptions of major errors and varieties, no Lincoln wheat penny struck after 1933 is worth more than 10 cents in worn condition, and most are worth only 2 or 3 cents. Well-worn 1943 steel pennies often trade for 5 to 10 cents apiece in well-worn condition.

What penny is worth $50000?

The 1959-D wheat penny is one of the most controversial mule coins ever. It's worth $50,000!

What are silver pennies worth?

The value of a lightly circulated 1943 steel penny ranges from 20 cents to 50 cents. The uncirculated 1943 steel penny's worth is generally in the neighborhood of $1.50 to $5. Some well-preserved uncirculated 1943 steel pennies with pristine surfaces are worth more than $100.

What are the odds of finding a 1943 copper penny?

There are perhaps as many as 200 million normal pennies currently in circulation, so your odds of finding one of the 30 or so potentially floating around out there are one in fifteen million. Due to its rarity, an actual 1943 copper penny is worth tens of thousands of dollars, if not more.

What is the rarest wheat penny?

Considered to be the most valuable of the non-error Wheat Pennies, the 1914 D Wheat Penny commands an asking price range from $281 to $4,268.

What coin is George Washington on?

Quarter - George Washington

The Washington quarter dollar was minted in 1932 in celebration of the first president's 200th birthday.

What is a Lincoln Memorial penny?

The “Lincoln Memorial” penny design was introduced in 1959. This design was last made in 2008 and replaced by the Lincoln Bicentennial One Cent Program. The obverse design featuring President Abraham Lincoln was first produced in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birth.

What pennies have errors?

List of Error Coins Worth Money

  1. 1922-D Plain Lincoln Cent. ...
  2. 1943 Copper Lincoln Cent. ...
  3. 1944 Steel Lincoln Cent. ...
  4. 1955 DDO Lincoln Cent. ...
  5. 1974-D Aluminum Lincoln Cent. ...
  6. 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo Nickel. ...
  7. 1942/1 Mercury Dimes. ...
  8. 1975 No S Proof Roosevelt Dime.

How do you clean a 1943 steel penny?

The easiest way to clean a steel penny is to soak it in olive oil. Let the pennies sit in the oil for several minutes. Next, remove the penny and gently apply a cotton swab to the surface. The cotton will absorb the oil and leave behind a shiny steel surface.

Should I clean my 1943 steel penny?

If you assume that the coins you have may be valuable (or you already know that they are), remember that any cleaning is strictly forbidden! If you do so, it will reduce the overall value of a coin because even the slightest cleaning can leave micro scratches and remove the “toning” from it.

What year penny has a misprint?

A rare 1792 misprint penny, valued at more than $2.5 million, and other rare coins were recently displayed at the 2018 World's Fair of Money, held in Philadelphia from August 14 to 18.