A shortage of copper combined with a need to provide coinage to commerce forced the mint to use an alternative alloy. The 1943 D/D steel penny is an error coin minted that particular year. Sincerely: Linda G. I have a silver wheat penny that only has a 19 for the date and has no mint mark. But it is advisable to use proper coin cleaners. How Much is a 1942 Wheat Penny Worth? (Price Chart) - Something Borrowed The most rare example is the 1943 D bronze wheat penny of which there is only one known to exist. Discover how much your box of old coins is worth. Im a member of the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG) and have won multiple awards from the NLG for my work as a coin journalist. These steel cents or steel Pennies as they are commonly called, were quite unpopular when they first were released. Please see this forum post for more information: https://coinvalues.com/forum/1944-wheat-penny#reply-6. He has worked in personal finance for over 20 years, helping families reduce taxes, increase their income, and save for retirement. 1943 Steel Penny: Value and History Explained - SD Bullion | How much is a Wheat Penny worth? this coin is most sought after by collectors and is most valuable in any grade. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Typical examples in uncirculated condition usually realize $1 to $5. Join us today for FREE! Another disadvantage was the similarity with Dimes. If your 1943 penny does NOT stick to a magnet it may be a copper cent error that is worth $85,000 or more. Best wishes, This is somewhat different than the typical 95% copper, 5% tin and zinc composition generally used at the time for producing Wheat pennies. A former US President Abraham Lincoln profile is on the obverse, with the inscription IN GOD WE TRUST located on the upper edge. Michael is a contributor to SD Bullion and the founder of Your Money Geek, where he is on a mission to make finance fun. I buy coins in the mail and they are tracked to my address, but 50% of the time I get them and 50& of the time I dont. And, sure, that makes sense. All Wheat Pennies are worth at least three times face value, but of course many are worth substantially more especially the key date Wheat pennies. During World War II, the war effort required a lot of copper to make shell casings and munitions. Washington Quarter Values and Prices (1932-1964), Lincoln Wheat penny key dates, rarities,andvarieties, 1909-S VDB (small "S" below the date and "V.D.B." Hi Kelli. More than 2 billion wheat pennies were made in 1944, but that doesn't mean that there aren't important 1944 Lincoln cents that are worth a lot of money. I ALSO HAVE 1943 STEEL PENNY, ITS OBVIOUSLY MISSING THE 4 IN THE DATE! The images aren't coming through unfortunately. Hope that helps! If the coin sticks to the magnet, it contains steel and is fake. These coins have been given the designation King of Lincoln Cent Varieties due to the doublings dramatic extent. 1944 US Mint Annual Report Today, however, many coin collectors and non-collectors alike regard 1943 Pennies as something of a novelty. 1944 Lincoln Wheat Penny Value Guide - Gainesville Coins 1943 steel cents capture interest of collectors. Importantly in this condition a strong eye appeal is projected by both coins. Ultimate Guide To 1999 Penny Values (Including The 1999 Penny Error/1999 Wide AM Penny). What Is a Wheat Penny and How Much Are They Worth? Value:In average condition, this penny will be worth around $950 and in mint condition around $2,200. When that part of the design was rejected, he added his three initials, V.D.B., to the coin's reverse at the bottom between the stalks of the wheat ears. USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1943-S Lincoln Wheat Penny (Bronze/Copper Variety) is Worth $252,182 in Average Condition and can be Worth $593,651 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition. Abundant on a rarity scale. Since your wheat penny has a silver color, it's almost certainly a 1943 steel cent. These are worth, A lightly circulated 1943 steel penny is generally worth, The uncirculated 1943 steel penny value usually ranges from about, Some well-preserved uncirculated 1943 steel pennies with pristine surfaces are worth. The most valuable Wheat Penny ever auctioned is a unique 1943-D Bronze Cent, sold for $840,000. Good afternoon! I have a 1943 S mint mark copper penny. I have 1943 double die copper pennies and 1943 copper penine that is in good shape no magnet sticks I have got them I want to sell. A litany of tests and patterns followed for the emergency composition, including plastic and glass. I have a 1943 wheat penny, with a number three on the back side between the wheat? Ironically, the transition back to the normal bronze composition in 1944 reversed this situation! Each of the two 1944 pennies could be worth around $5 or more, depending on their condition. 1943 S Lincoln Wheat Cent : Bronze/Copper - USA Coin Book He officially announced the change in design that same year. FAQs About the 1944 Steel Penny How Much is a 1943 or 1944 Penny Worth? Regular 1943 steel cents, on the other hand, can be had for between 10 cents and $1 each in circulated grades, and for about $3 to $5 in uncirculated grades. San Francisco struck 191,550,000 zinc coated steel pennies in 1943, 3th highest amount in a single year wheat cent. The 1943 steel cent was produced during the height of World War II. Reply. As always, there are also two inscriptions, the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and E PLURIBUS UNUM. Takedown request | View. Value: This Lincoln penny value varies from 75 cents up to $1,000. The United States Mint eventually acquiesced to the concerns of the public. Richard. This year and mintage (Denver) is considered a key date and is the most valuable of the non-error Wheat pennies. Most 1943 steel pennies that youll find in circulation are pretty well worn (and many that are worn exhibit rust). Here's How to Test Your Silver & Gold, Buffalo Nickel (19131938): Values & History, Mercury Dime (19161945): Values & History, Washington Quarters: Key Dates & Varieties. Double die minting errors result from two impressions being made that are slightly offset from one another. | Melt Value? They are worth a considerable amount over theircoppermelt value due to their numismatic interest. Hey Glenn. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. There are only around 30 samples known. | Melt Value? USA Coin Book estimated value of 1943-D Lincoln Wheat Penny (Bronze/Copper Variety) is worth $408,418 in average condition and can be worth $821,820 to $2,087,886 or more in uncirculated (MS+) mint condition. You can tell its made that way. A lower quality EF40 was sold for $23,000 in 2001 which was a real bargain for the buyer. Place higher grade coins in individual holders. On average, you can earn $0.19 from pawnbrokers for your Lincoln penny. Thomas G. Flammio: 1943-D steel penny - 217,660,000 minted; 10 cents to 50 cents 1943-S steel penny - 191,550,000 minted; 15 cents to 60 cents 1943-D boldly doubled mintmark - mintage unknown; $35 to $60 1943 copper pennies (any mintmark) - Perhaps 25 to 40 known; $125,000 to $1 million+ The silver colored Lincoln wheat cent minted in Philadelphia with no mint mark is the most common 1943 penny. Lincoln Wheat Penny (1909-1958): Values & Key Dates - Gainesville Coins It is important to judge your coin against both the images and descriptions. Copper was essential for making ammunitions so the government decided to divert copper from making pennies to manufacturing shell casings. Collectible Grade: Qualities of these unique 1943 pennies involve special considerations in condition less than Extremely Fine grade. Thank you! (Price Chart), How Much is a 1943 Walking Liberty Half Dollar Worth? Anyway have a great day everyone out there. Before you go down the path of building a complete set of Lincoln Wheat pennies, use the following price guide to give you an approximatevalue and pricefor your Lincoln Wheat pennies. In low grades, a 1943 or 1944 penny is only worth its face value. Teletrade Coin Auctions, www.teletrade.com. Confusing which is which between the two years could cost you dearly in your coin collection. The Rare 1943 Penny If your 1943 penny is made out of copper, it is worth quite a bit of money, generally $10,000 or more! Of course, the offer you receive from a particular coin dealer will vary depending on the actual grade of the coin and several otherfactors that determine its worth. and new product arrivals. You can recognize only Lincolns profile, while almost all the details have merged. 1944 bronze cents are common, but a few of the steel-coated zinc coins were minted that year by mistake. These coins are on a rarity scale of Abundant. Only a couple dozen pieces were made and exist today, and each is worth about $100,000. Be less concerned with completing your collection and pay more attention to acquiring high-grade quality coins. Another XF40 graded errored coin was created when a Curacao 25 cent planchet was mistakenly used and this sold for $7,637.50. I have 6 1943 Stell Cents, they are not graded, 2 are D's one is an S, and the rest are no mint marks, should I get these graded to see their actual value, I am hesitant as it may cost more to get them graded than they are worth? So the 1943-D Wheat Penny that was accidentally struck in copper ended up being quite . CSSocialMedia says. An act of Congress in 1942 approved a provisional 35% silver composition for the nickel. These so-called shell case cents, struck through 1946, consist of 95% copper and 5% zinc. For higher value coins, Grading Lincoln Wheat Pennies expands on the grading process with video, descriptions, and images. Darker tones of grey within the fields highlight lighter tones of the devices. These are considered novelty items and have no collector value. a #8 might get you #1 maybe ? Some 1940 Lincoln proof pennies go for $25 or more. PCGS has more than 48,000 copies registered in MS60 or higher grades and halves to 24,000 copies registered in MS65 . It would be txt. 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. Prices for 1943 penny error coins, like the 1943-D doubled mintmark variety, can reach several hundred dollars. on the back at the bottom between the stems of the wheat ears), 1909-S Over Horizontal S (re-punched mintmark or RPM), 1943 Bronze/copper (cents in 1943 were made out of zinc plated steel, not copper), 1943-D Bronze/copper (cents in 1943 were made out of zinc plated steel, not copper). He has also authored numerous books, including works profiling the history of the United States Mint and United States coinage. He has over 50 years of numismatic and writing experience, including a monthly magazine column for the American Numismatic Association. Value:In average condition, this coin is worth about $77,000 and as much as $110,000 if in certified mint state condition by a coin grading service. Grade 2020 Value; MS67: $1,586: MS65: $600: MS65: $528 #2 - 1943 Steel Penny D - $6,000. Value: This Lincoln penny is worth around $1.50 and up to $1,800 if in mint condition. Fine This penny was in circulation for a while but without much damage. Their history is directly connected with WWII. A very common fraud involving the copper 1943 cent is to grind away part of the 8 in the date of a 1948 penny. Yes, a copper 1943 penny really is worth an average of $85,000. I just wanted to know, How can you tell if you have a steel penny, or a bronze penny? Image: USA CoinBook. Mint Engraver Charles E. Barber strongly objected to the use of three initials on the coin. The usual 1 lb bags of Wheat Pennies include 148 coins, but it might vary. If the coins show any signs of wear, they are probably worth around $1. The new penny would have the Lincoln Memorial as a motif, substituting the popular wheat stalks. This article will answer the two key questions about the Lincoln wheat pennies: What are the most valuable wheat pennies tocoin collectors(i.e. As you tilt the coin under a light confirm no breaks in shine are evident. Preservation in a dry location has resulted in a collectible grade 1943 steel penny. How Much is a 1943 Dime Worth? A natural blue-grey color is displayed by the fields of the coin, highlighting the legends and devices. That initial year had two versions. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'losttreasurehq_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-losttreasurehq_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');Some 1943 steel wheat cents also come with a D over D mint mark error making them more valuable as they are unique. Values of these steel pennies is greatly reduced by the problems rust creates. how do you tell if it is the right 1943 penny stated in one article if the penny sticks to the magnetic it is fake and another place states that if it does not stick it is a fake which of these statements are actually the right one. The reason for the change from Bronze to Zinc was to do with the US war effort that year. Indeed, whether collected as part of a short set or incorporated into a larger run of Lincoln cents, the 1943 steel pennies are favorites among non-numismatists and veteran coin collectors alike. ), on the reverse side, and the other did not. Images used to locate mint marks finds its exact place on the chart. No minted mark means it is a P mint, Penn. The most advisable way to sell them is to find a trustworthy dealer who can evaluate your coins appropriately and offer a fair deal. Although it is not particularly rare, the 1943 steel penny is fascinating. Only a couple dozen pieces were made and exist today, and each is worth about $100,000. Value: These valuable pennies are worth anywhere from $30 to as much as $1,200. The United States Mint struck over 600,000,000 of the Lincoln Wheat Penny in 1943, which is a fairly large mintage. How Much is a Silver Dollar Worth? Grading condition is guided by standards. (Spoiler alert: a1943 silver wheat penny isNOT made from silver!). However, some leftover steel blanks ended up in the pressing machines, and these 1944 steel cents ended up in circulation. It is the only use in US coinage of this alloy. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'losttreasurehq_com-leader-1','ezslot_7',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-losttreasurehq_com-leader-1-0');The 1943 wheat back penny is very unique as it was the only year that Lincoln head cents where supposed to be made of zinc, however some rare zinc coated steel coins exist with a 1944 mint date. The Wheat Penny debuted in 1909 and production ceased in 1958, during President Eisenhowers term in office. Highest areas to judge for complete luster are Lincoln's temple, cheek, and jaw. The United States Mint started its production in January of the following year. A better than average 1943 cent stands out over lesser condition coins. Very few of these pennies were minted and released into circulation. When it comes to evaluating 1943 Lincoln cents, the duo of a magnet and gram scale has broken many hearts and burst many bubbles over the years. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. My love for coins began when I was 11 years old. For all these reasons, the US Mint decided to reuse copper for producing pennies in 1944. Jump to: What is a Wheat Penny? 1943 Copper Penny - Spotting a Fake - The Spruce Crafts Although the US Mint decided to replace copper with steel in the penny production, the machines mixed copper leftovers with steel plates. The best bullion deals straight to your inbox. No Mintmark Under Date: Philadelphia Mint Struck the Coin. Brenner's initials would be brought back in 1918, but they were much smaller and were placed on the front of the coin near Lincoln's shoulder. Another scam involves the 1948 penny. Although a wheat penny's face value is one cent, as a good rule of thumb, all wheat pennies, including common dates, are worth more than their face value. This may come as something of a surprise to the many who believe these coins are quite valuable. To the untrained eye, you could be tricked into thinking you have a rare 1943 copper wheat penny. How Rare Is a 1943 Lincoln Steel Penny? - The Spruce Crafts Advanced collections choose from the many available in "like new" condition. But in high grades, a 1944 S Steel Penny once sold for $1,110,923, so your coin could be worth a million dollars! As a result, the reverse dies were remade, and all the initials were removed but not before some coins were minted and released to the public. A lighter shade of silver-grey highlights the design. Also important to collectors is condition of a coin. 1943 Steel (Silver) Penny: Background and Value - The Spruce Crafts This post may contain affiliate links. Even those in poor condition are worth at least 3 or 4 cents, and some can be worth six figures to coin collectors. The 1943 steel cents are quite common, and more than 1 billion were struck for circulation. Young collectors seek coins with the least amount of wear. Some leftover copper planchets (sometimes mistaken for brass) were still in the presses from the previous year (1942) as the zinc planchets were loaded up. Collector preference are coins without rust. Also, click here to Learn About Grading Coins. Given the popularity of collecting Lincoln Wheat cents, there will always be a demand for quality coins. How Much Is A 1943 Copper Cent Worth? Very interesting site and looking for the value of a 1943 penny unminted. Click here to Learn How to use Coin Price Charts. The first Lincoln pennies released came to be known as the Lincoln wheat penny, or Lincoln wheat cent, which featured two wheat stalks framing the writing on the reverse side. Looking to see how much your wheat penny is worth? 1943 steel wheat pennies were not a hit for these reasons: The U.S. government found the solution to the above problem by making the1944 wheat penny from spent copper shell casings that were recovered from battlefields after use. I would like to sell would anyone be interested?? i have 54 philly version cents. While not all wheat pennies will fetch a high price tag, all wheat pennies are worth more than their face value and are thus a sought-after coin for collectors. Maybe youll find one in your pocket change if you look hard enough and youre lucky. Hi Jackie. This price was paid for the only known example of a 1943-D copper penny graded MS64BN by Professional Coin Grading Service. I was wondering is my US cent from 1943 and 1944s are worth any money. So it's possible that your coin is a mint error. Also, click here to Learn About Grading Coins. Wheat pennies refer specifically to Lincoln Cents produced from 1909 to 1958. One of the most unusual American pennies was the silver-colored coin minted in 1943. Their value lies in their novelty. Nevertheless, they are a cost-effective alternative to buying uncirculated 1943 Pennies and are popular in the non-numismatic market. As mentioned above, 1943 copper pennies are rare and valuable. Zinc exposed to moisture forms a white soft power, zinc oxide. Litvak-American sculptor Victor David Brenner inherited the task. 1943 S Lincoln Wheat Cent : Steel Cent - USA Coin Book Typically sold in sets of three to include Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco issues. You can also send photos once I've connected you. I definitely recommend getting it authenticated! Thank You. Some valuable errors from this year include a Philadelphia minted MS66 penny struck on a dime planchet which sold at Heritage Auctions for $8,400. Due to their high value for coin collectors, there are lots of fakes around. The value of a coin varies according to many factors: metal content, purity, rarity, etc. Most are entirely inexpensive, but you can find the high-graded piece for $3,250 in the coin market. The 1943 Lincoln penny has the same look as other pennies in the series. The first thing to address is that 1943 steel cents are not at all rare. Surfaces of the coins lack the sparkle of luster only possible by the striking of a coin with dies. In 1943, 217,660,000 pennies came out from the Denver mint. Value:In average condition, many collectors would be willing to pay about $60,000 and as much as $85,000 in mint condition. 2023 SD Bullion, Inc. All rights reserved. Most 1943 Lincoln pennies in worn grades (average condition) trade for around 10 cents to 25 cents apiece. Although a wheat penny's face value is one cent, as a good rule of thumb, all wheat pennies, including common dates, are worth more than their face value. the postal carrier says they put them in my box, but I still am looking for them. How Much Is a 1943 Silver Penny Worth? Your Coin Guide - Jewels Advisor What needs to be remembered, though, is that 1943 steel Pennies are not rare in fact, they are quite common, with more than 1 billion produced across all three mints operating in 1943: Philadelphia, Denver (D), and San Francisco (S). Copper was completely eliminated from the denominations composition, in favor of a one-year-only type featuring a zinc-plated steel composition. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Central Banks Lead the Way In Massive Gold Bullion Buying, Another Major Bank Teeters - Deutsche Bank. Just wondering if u have any info about it. The record price for a 1943 copper Lincoln penny is over $1.7 million at auction in 2010. Be on the lookout for the ultra-rare 1909-S VDB. Keep checking your change, and happy collecting! Hi Jules. Each of the above are worn 1943 steel cents displaying wear to the surface. There area few 1943 rare wheat pennies, but most1943 wheat pennies are not rare. How Much is a 1940 Penny Worth? (Price Chart) - Something Borrowed No larges nicks distract the eye and rust is not present. After a while, the coins quickly lost a zinc surface layer and were prone to rust. James Bucki is a nationally-recognized coin collector and numismatic expert and author, sharing his knowledge and specialized training in coin grading, minting errors, and collection techniques. Some well-preserved uncirculated 1943 steel pennies with pristine surfaces are worth more than $100. And this is a good thing I love telling people the story behind 1943 pennies and what theyre worth! D Denv. For example, one 1943-D copper penny commanded a whopping $1.7 million when it sold at an auction in 2010. Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez is a journalist, editor, and blogger who has won multiple awards from the Numismatic Literary Guild. The value of a lightly circulated 1943 steel penny ranges from 20 cents to 50 cents. The incorrect use of brushes or cloth can cause unwanted scratches or tears. A grade defines its state of condition and is used by collectors to help judge its worth. Many coins removed from circulation have only touches of wear retaining a pleasing appearance. Are you concerned the precious metals train has left the station without you. Extra fine This coin wasnt in circulation for a long, and you can notice only light signs of wear on its surface. Theodore Roosevelt was on a mission to redesign our nation's coinage. The change lasted only a year, and in 1944, the bronze alloy returned to the Lincoln wheat cents again. Well-worn 1943 steel pennies often trade for 5 to 10 cents apiece in well-worn condition. one in real good condition might be worth $1-$7 Value:The value of a coin with this error can make for quite a few dollars, ranging from $80 to as much as $3,000 if uncirculated. The second penny is worn to the point design elements are beginning to connect. In Extremely Fine condition, it is worth about $0.04 and could sell for $0.89 in uncirculated condition. Value:This penny's value ranges from about $20 to as high as $5,000 if in mint condition. How do I know if my Wheat penny is worth money? (2023) Even though they are pretty common these days, most collectors want to include them in their collections. Otherwise, non-error steel cents are not in themselves rare. Zinc, the outer coating, is prone to dulling if disturbed. Rare 1943 Penny Sells for Six Figures: How To Tell If You Have One Too Would you please try and repost these images here? In a minute, Ill talk more about the 1943 copper penny and why its so rare. This paved the way for an emergency composition for the one-cent coin as well. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. How much a steel penny is worth is very dependent on the condition of the coin. This example was well preserved over time. The 1943 wheat penny made from zinc is worth between $0.16 (G4) and $6,000 (MS68) depending on where they were minted. When I first got into coin collecting back in the early 1990s, I thought like so many people who ask me about their coins here at The Fun Times Guide that my silvery 1943 pennies were actually made from silver. Read on Ill also tell you what 1943 silver pennies are actually made from and well discuss the rare, valuable 1943 copper penny below as well. A lightly circulated 1943 steel penny is generally worth 20 cents to 50 cents. Broken down by each mint, the individual mintages are as follows: 1943 Philadelphia Mint cents 684,628,670. Heres how to tell if your 1943 silver wheat penny is rare or not: Rare 1943 wheat pennies are made from bronze theylook similar to most other copper pennies from other years. For one, there were up to 3 different types of coins produced each year. 1922 Silver Dollar Value: How Much Is It Worth Today? Value: It ranges in value from about $8 to $800. But even in poor condition, they may be worth at least 3 or 4 cents, and some may be worth a lot more to coin collectors.