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It's Zinc coated steel. Copper was need for war effort so in 1943 they were made out of steel and zinc. In circulated condition they are worth 3 cents to a dollar. In uncirculated condition they are worth about $20.
Value (US$): $200,000+
Updated as of 10/2010:
1943 plain - $35,000 to $137,000 depending on condition
1943 S - $125,000 to $275,000
1943 D - up to $1.75 million at auction
About 40 1943 copper cents are known to remain in existence. The easiest way to determine if your 1943 cent is copper (and valuable) is to test it with a magnet. If it sticks to the magnet, it is a steel penny, and not valuable. If it does not stick, then you might have hit the jackpot... have an expert authenticate your coin.
1 -- The coin will not stick to a magnet.
2 -- The weight of the coin is 48 grains or 3.11 grams.
3 -- The "3" in 1943 has the same long tail as the "steelies."
4 -- The quality of the strike is exceptionally sharp especially around the rim because the bronze coin was struck with the same higher pressure as the steel pennies.
5 -- Have the coin authenticated by an independent grading service.
There are bazillions of fake copper 1943 cents. If the coin sticks to a magnet, it's a 1943 steel cent that's been plated. If the tail of the "3" in the date is rounded in almost a half-circle rather than nearly straight, it's a 1948 cent that's been altered. Either way they're damaged coins. If neither of these conditions holds, it's still likely to be a fake made either by casting or electronic "sputtering".
If it's real it should weigh 3.11 gm and have a clear "ding" when (gently) dropped on a hard table. If so, it should be checked by a certified expert in rare coins.
Steel, not silver. After all, a silver penny would have more metal in it than a dime that's worth 10 times as much!
These coins were made of steel to free up copper for use in ammunition. They're common among collectors and most sell for 25 - 35 cents at retail
Authentic examples are value at more than $100,000.00, If you think you have a bronze 1943 Lincoln take it to a qualified professional for evaluation.
It's not silver, it's zinc-plated steel. If it's still shiny, it's worth about 50 cents.
No 1941, 1942 or 1943 British Pennies were minted. Pennies were only minted for the colonies using the 1940 dies.
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Could your steel 1943 penny be plated on top and be original copper?
The original composition is steel not copper, many have been copper plated.
How much 1943 copper worth?
The value of a copper 1943 penny is $200,000+. However, copper-plated counterfeits are prevalent. In order to test for a counterfeit, run a magnet over the penny. If it doesn't stick, you are now the proud owner one of the rarest mis-struck coins in U.S. Mint history.
What is the value of a 1943 penny?
it is not rare enough to have any value [will have value in about 3 years]
Is a copper penny of 1943 higher value than a penny of 2010 or a lower value?
HIGHER!!! It is worth $150,000!!!!CorrectionThe above response refers to an AMERICAN copper penny dated 1943. All Canadian cents dated 1943 were made of copper, while 2010 cents are copper-plated steel. 1943 Canadian cents are worth around 50 cents to a dollar depending on condition, so they're certainly worth more than 2010 cents but not a huge amount. To explain the value of a 1943 AMERICAN copper cent, the US Mint switched to zinc-plated steel that year because copper was needed for making ammunition. A few copper blanks left over from 1942 were accidentally mixed in and were struck with the 1943 date. These coins are very rare and can sell for the amount quoted above.
What is the value of a 1943 copper wheat penny?
A genuine 1943 copper cent would have a value of about $50,000.00 less than 15 are known to exist
What is the value of the rare 1943 copper wheat penny?
$35,000.00 to $81,000.00
How much would a 1943 D copper penny be worth?
A geniune 1943-D copper cent would have a value of about $50,000.00
What is the value of a 1943 copper penny?
A genuine copper (bronze actually) 1943 Philadelphia issue Lincoln cent has a minimum value of $60,000.00.
What is value of 1943 S copper penny?
A genuine 1943-S copper (Bronze actually) cent would have a value of $75,000.00 or more. Only 4 have been authenticated.
1943 copper wheatback penny with no mint mark what is it worth?
you have a 1943 penny that looks like it is made out of copper, this is how you can authenticate it to tell if it is a genuine 1943 copper penny, or a fake 1943 copper penny. But first of all, be aware that the 1943 penny was issued in zinc-coated steel, because the USA needed copper for the war effort. Any genuine 1943 copper pennies are extremely rare mint errors. Learn more about your silver colored 1943 Steel Penny. The easiest way to tell if your 1943 copper cent is merely a copper-plated steel penny is to test it with a magnet. If the magnet sticks to the penny, it's made of steel which has been dipped or plated in copper. Such a penny is worth about 15 cents as a novelty item. If your 1943 copper colored penny doesn't stick to a magnet, then look at the date carefully (using a magnifying glass, if possible.) If the tail of the 3 doesn't extend well below the "line" of numbers, it is probably a cut-in-half 8. A very common fraud involving the copper 1943 cent is to cut away part of the 8 in the date of a 1948 penny. If the 3 in your date looks like half of an 8, your coin is not a genuine 1943 copper penny. Any time you have a potentially valuable coin, it's always a good idea to take it to a qualified coin dealer for a professional opinion. Most dealers do not charge to have a look at your coins and give you an informal verbal appraisal. More Coins Quick Tips Coin Values Guide
Why will the real 1943 penny stick to amagnet but a real 1944 penny will not?
The 1943 penny is most likely made of steel, which is magnetic, while the 1944 penny is typically made of copper, which is not magnetic. This difference in composition is why the 1943 penny will stick to a magnet while the 1944 penny will not.
What was the last year of the copper penny?
US Coins the last year for a copper (actually bronze) penny is 1982. In 1982 the penny was made as a copper coin and a copper plated zinc coin. You have to weigh them to tell the difference. Bronze cents weigh 3.11 gm and zinc ones weigh 2.5 gm. The penny has remained a copper plated zinc since 1982 however there is talk of changing it again to a copper plated steel coin. In 1943 the Lincoln US cent was steel coated with zinc because the copper was needed for ammunition during the War. In 1944 it went back the copper coin. Today the cost of copper is too high to make a solid copper coin/penny. In fact the cost of stamping/minting the coins and raw materials, the penny and nickel cost more to produce than their face value.
