What is a 1943 P penny worth?
Sarah Garza
Updated on April 10, 2026
USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1943 Lincoln Wheat Penny (Steel Cent Variety) is Worth $0.22 in Average Condition and can be Worth $2.74 to $8.91 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition.
Why is the 1943 D penny so valuable?
The Rare 1943 Penny If your 1943 penny is made out copper, it is worth quite a bit of money, generally $10,000 or more! 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 1943 pennies are rare?
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 Lincoln wheat penny worth?
Watch Now: The Most Valuable Lincoln Wheat Pennies 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 big is a 1943 copper cent coin?
Even if the coin you believe to be a 1943 copper cent checks out with your own tests—meaning it is NOT magnetic and weighs about 3.1 grams and appears to have an unaltered design (notice all the “ands,” not “ors” here)—then you should consider having it authenticated by reputable third-party grading service.
Who was the winning bidder for the 1943 copper penny?
The winning bidder was Tom Caldwell of Concord, Massachusetts. CBS News reports that another of the 1943 copper pennies sold for $1.7 million in 2010. We’ve seen people do some crazy things with pennies, but it turns out that there is a certain copper penny out there that could make you a small fortune of over $200,000 if you find it.
Why are the planchets of the 1943 Penny rusting?
As the zinc coating wore off the steel core the exposed steel underneath began to rust. The manufacturing process for producing the planchets was also flawed. Mint workers first rolled a sheet of steel to the proper thickness. Next, the steel sheet was plated with zinc and passed through a blanking press.
