Buy 1943 Steel Penny online!
The 1943 steel penny is a U.S. coin produced by the United States during World War II. To conserve copper for war efforts, the U.S. Mint made pennies from zinc-coated steel instead of the usual copper. These steel cents have a distinctive silver-gray appearance and are magnetic. Although billions were produced, their unique composition makes them a popular item among collectors.
The 1943 Steel Penny is one of the most iconic rare coins in US history. Collectors love this coin because it was the only year a penny was made of steel and not copper. When the US entered the war effort during World War II, copper became a necessary commodity. So, every ounce of copper the military could get their hands on was used to make ammunition and military supplies, including the stores typically used for making pennies. A few rare copper cents were struck by mistake in 1943, but the rest were struck with steel, creating an incredibly unique steel grey wheat penny! This is an incredible piece of both numismatic and American history, and now you can get an entire roll of (50) Circulated 1943 Steel Cents for cheap for your collection today!
Highlights:
- (50) cents total
- Struck with steel, not copper!
- Circulated condition
Learn About The 1943 Steel Penny
1943 Steel Penny Design
The 1943 Steel Penny was originally designed by Victor Brenner. The obverse of the coin featured a side portrait of former president Abraham Lincoln. On the reverse two wheat stalks that surrounded the words "one cent". The reverse design is the reason why many coin collectors call the penny "wheatie" or "wheat cent".
1943 Steel Penny Mintage
A total of 684,628,670 1943 Steel Pennies were minted, making it a common coin in the Lincoln Cent Series. The coins were produced at the San Fransisco, Philadelphia, and Denver mints. Steel Pennies often range in value from a few cents to $20 or less a coin for really high quality mint state specimens. Even stunning Steel Penny Sets can be found for less than $100. Learn more about 1943 steel penny value >
Each 1943 Steel Penny was made of steel and coated with zinc. Often devious people tried to pass the 1943 Steel Penny off as a rare 1943 copper penny by coating it with copper. However, you can easily tell if the coin is the true rare 1943 copper by using a magnet. If the magnet picks up the coin then it is just a 1943 steel penny plated in copper. A true copper 1943 Cent is extremely rare, with only a handful of coins proven to exist.
1943 Steel Penny Composition
- Material: The 1943 Steel Penny is composed of a steel core with a zinc coating, giving it a distinctive silver color, unlike the traditional copper penny.
- Magnetic Properties: Due to its steel core, the 1943 Steel Penny can be attracted to magnets, a characteristic not found in other U.S. pennies.
- Condition Issues: The zinc coating on the steel pennies can wear off or corrode over time, leading to rusting. This has resulted in many surviving examples showing varying degrees of corrosion or deterioration, affecting their overall condition and value.
1943 Steel Penny Minting and Distribution
- Mints: The 1943 Steel Penny was produced at three U.S. Mint facilities: Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (D mint mark), and San Francisco (S mint mark). The different mint marks can affect the coin's rarity and value.
- Quantity: Despite their unique composition, a significant number of 1943 Steel Pennies were minted, making them relatively common in circulated condition. However, high-grade examples (MS-67 and above) are much rarer and sought after by collectors.
1943 Steel Penny Valuable Errors
- 1943 Copper Pennies: A handful of pennies in 1943 were mistakenly struck on leftover copper planchets from the previous year. These copper versions are highly rare and valuable, with a handful of authentic examples known to exist.
- 1944 Steel Pennies: Similarly, in 1944, a small number of pennies were mistakenly struck on the steel planchets intended for the 1943 issues. Like their copper counterparts from the previous year, these are also rare and highly collectible.
You may also like: 1859-1909 Indian Head Cent (Roll of 50), Wheat Penny Roll of 50 - Choice Uncirculated, 1909 VDB Lincoln Penny, Rhode Island Bank Hoard $1 Note, 2024 Silver Eagles, certified sport cards, what pokemon cards are worth money.
