1943 Steel Penny Value: What Yours Is Worth
A circulated 1943 steel penny is worth about 18 to 61 cents. Uncirculated ones run about $3, and gem MS65 coins about $10 to $25 depending on the mint. Nearly every 1943 penny is steel and sticks to a magnet. The copper 1943 is the rare one.
- Composition
- Steel with a zinc coating. Weighs 2.70 grams. Sticks to a magnet.
- Mintage
- 684,628,670 at Philadelphia (no mint mark), plus hundreds of millions more at Denver (D) and San Francisco (S).
- Why steel
- Copper was needed for World War II, so the Mint used steel for one year.
Value by grade
| Grade | 1943 | 1943-D | 1943-S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good (G4) | $0.18 | - | - |
| About Uncirculated (AU50) | $0.61 | - | - |
| Uncirculated (MS60) | $3.08 | - | - |
| Gem Uncirculated (MS65) | $10 | $12 | $25 |
Retail values from USA Coin Book. Blank cells mean we only pulled the MS65 value for that mint. Values checked Oct 8, 2026.
What to look for
- Try a fridge magnet. Steel sticks. If your 1943 does not stick, read the copper 1943 page before you do anything else.
- The mint mark is under the date. No letter means Philadelphia.
- Bright, unrusted coins are worth the most. Many were later recoated with zinc by private companies, and collectors value those less.
Fakes and lookalikes
- Steel cents are cheap, so fakes are rare. The usual trick goes the other way: copper-plating a steel 1943 to pass it off as the rare copper version. A magnet catches that.
Find the keepers in your coin jar
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FAQ
Is a 1943 steel penny rare?
No. Philadelphia alone made over 684 million. Worn ones are worth well under a dollar.
Why does my 1943 penny stick to a magnet?
Because it is steel, like almost every 1943 penny. That is normal.
What is the most valuable 1943 steel penny?
Among normal coins, the best values are for gem uncirculated pieces, like a 1943-S at about $25 in MS65. Higher grades certified by PCGS or NGC can bring more.
Related coins
Sources
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.
Also available as Markdown.