1943 Copper Penny Value: Is Yours the Real One?
A genuine 1943 copper (bronze) penny is worth six figures: about $155,000 in Extremely Fine and $438,000 in uncirculated, and the only known 1943-D sold for $840,000. Only about two dozen exist. If your 1943 penny sticks to a magnet, it is steel and worth under a dollar.
- Known examples
- About 15 to 17 from Philadelphia, 7 from San Francisco (S) and a single coin from Denver (D).
- How it happened
- Leftover bronze blanks from 1942 were struck with 1943 dies.
- Weight
- 3.11 grams for bronze, versus 2.70 grams for the normal steel cent.
Value by grade
| Coin and grade | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1943 bronze, EF40 | $154,859 | USA Coin Book retail |
| 1943 bronze, AU50 | $240,740 | USA Coin Book retail |
| 1943 bronze, MS60 | $438,300 | USA Coin Book retail |
| 1943 bronze, MS62 BN | $372,000 | Heritage, Feb 2021 |
| 1943-S bronze, AU55 | $456,000 | Stack's Bowers, Mar 10, 2026 |
| 1943-D bronze, MS64 BN | $840,000 | Heritage, Jan 2021 |
Values checked Oct 8, 2026.
What to look for
- Magnet first. A real bronze 1943 does not stick. If it sticks, it is steel.
- Weigh it. Bronze is about 3.11 grams. A plated steel coin weighs about 2.70 grams.
- Look closely at the 3 in the date. Many fakes are 1948 pennies with the 8 cut into a 3.
- If it passes the magnet and weight tests, stop handling it and contact PCGS or NGC.
Fakes and lookalikes
- Copper-plated steel cents: they look right but stick to a magnet.
- Altered dates: 1948 pennies and others with a digit tooled into a 3. They do not stick to a magnet, so check the date under magnification.
- Cast copies and novelty pieces are common. Nobody pays six figures without PCGS or NGC certification.
Find the keepers in your coin jar
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FAQ
How much is a 1943 copper penny worth?
A genuine one is worth well over $100,000. Retail values run from about $155,000 in EF40 to $438,000 in MS60, and the unique 1943-D sold for $840,000.
How do I know if my 1943 penny is copper?
Use a magnet. If it sticks, it is steel. If it does not stick and weighs about 3.11 grams, get it authenticated.
How many 1943 copper pennies exist?
About two dozen across all three mints, and just one from Denver.
My 1943 penny is copper colored but sticks to a magnet. What is it?
A copper-plated steel cent, plated after it left the Mint. It is worth about the same as a normal steel cent.
Related coins
Sources
- USA Coin Book, Lincoln wheat cent values
- PCGS auction prices, 1943-D bronze
- PCGS auction prices, 1943 bronze
- PCGS CoinFacts, 1943 1C Bronze
- CoinWeek, 1943-S bronze cent sells for $456,000
Values are retail estimates or recorded sale prices from the sources above, checked Oct 8, 2026. What a dealer pays you is usually less than retail.
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