---
title: "1944 Steel Penny Value: The Rare Flip Side of 1943"
description: "Almost every 1944 penny is copper. A few were struck on leftover steel blanks, and those are rare. Values and how to check yours."
canonical: https://dimehound.app/coins/1944-steel-penny-value/
author: Mike Moore
published: 2026-10-08
modified: 2026-10-08
values_checked: Oct 8, 2026
---

# 1944 Steel Penny Value: The Rare Flip Side of 1943

By Mike Moore. Published Oct 8, 2026. Updated Oct 8, 2026. Canonical page: https://dimehound.app/coins/1944-steel-penny-value/

A normal 1944 penny is copper and worth a few cents. A 1944 penny struck on a leftover steel blank is a rare error worth about $31,000 in Extremely Fine for a Philadelphia coin, and far more for the few from San Francisco. If your 1944 penny does not stick to a magnet, it is the normal copper coin.

- **Normal 1944:** Back to a copper alloy after the steel year. Weighs 3.11 grams. Does not stick to a magnet.
- **The error:** A small number of 1944 cents were struck on steel blanks left over from 1943.
- **Weight:** A steel cent weighs about 2.70 grams.

## Value by grade

**1944 cent values**

| Coin | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Normal 1944 copper cent, circulated | A few cents (common 1940s wheat cents run about $0.06 to $0.43 in Fine to About Uncirculated) |
| 1944 steel cent error (no mint mark), EF40 | $30,940 |
| 1944-D steel cent error, EF40 | $37,269 |
| 1944-S steel cent error, EF40 (only 2 known) | $438,303 |

Retail values from USA Coin Book. Values checked Oct 8, 2026.

## What to look for

- Magnet test. A 1944 that sticks deserves a closer look. A 1944 that does not stick is normal.
- Weigh it. About 2.70 grams suggests steel.
- Check the date for tooling. Some fakes are 1943 steel cents with the 3 altered to a 4.

## Fakes and lookalikes

- Altered 1943 steel cents are the main fake. Compare the last 4 to the first 4 under magnification. They should match.
- Any 1944 steel cent should be certified by PCGS or NGC before you sell or buy.

## Find my keepers

Dime Hound is a coin scanner for iPhone and Android. Join the waitlist at https://dimehound.app/coins/1944-steel-penny-value/#keepers and we'll email you once, the day it launches.

## FAQ

### Is a 1944 penny steel?

Almost never. The Mint went back to a copper alloy in 1944. Steel 1944 cents are rare errors.

### What is a 1944 copper penny worth?

A few cents in circulated condition, like most 1940s wheat pennies.

### What should I do if my 1944 penny sticks to a magnet?

Weigh it, check the date for tooling, and send it to PCGS or NGC if it passes. Do not clean it.

## Related coins

- [1943 Steel Penny Value: What Yours Is Worth](https://dimehound.app/coins/1943-steel-penny-value/)
- [1943 Copper Penny Value: Is Yours the Real One?](https://dimehound.app/coins/1943-copper-penny-value/)
- [Wheat Penny Value: Which 1909 to 1958 Pennies Are Worth Money](https://dimehound.app/coins/wheat-penny-value/)
- [1914-D Penny Value: What Yours Is Worth](https://dimehound.app/coins/1914-d-penny-value/)
- [1922 No D Penny Value: What Yours Is Worth](https://dimehound.app/coins/1922-no-d-penny-value/)

## Sources

1. [USA Coin Book, Lincoln wheat cent values](https://www.usacoinbook.com/coins/small-cents/lincoln-wheat-cent/)

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.