1943 Copper Penny Value Guide

The 1943 Copper Penny Value

1943 copper pennies range in value, but all versions and all grades are valuable. Even a 1943 copper penny graded Very Fine has a value of $147,000.

Mint-State grades for all versions bring in far more, with some approaching or over $1 million.

However, their rarity also means many grades have no current values due to no publicly known examples or not enough information existing yet. Instead, we’ve listed the grades for those coins as N/A.

Additionally, all values are conservative estimates based on research. Please note all values are subject to change due to the market or circumstances unaccounted for during research and publication. We always recommend doing further research or consulting with a professional.

Melt Value

We strongly recommend not melting down a 1943 copper penny, as these are extremely valuable and rare coins.

However, for those who are curious, the melt value of the 1943 copper penny is approximately negligible. The melt value will fluctuate with the market.

Circulation Strike Value Chart – Brown Coins (BN)

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1943 Brown Copper Penny	1943-D Brown Copper Penny	1943-S Brown Copper Penny
Good – G BN	N/A	N/A	N/A
Very Good – VG BN	N/A	N/A	N/A
Fine – F BN	N/A	N/A	N/A
Very Fine – VF BN	N/A	N/A	$147,000
Extra Fine – XF BN	$197,000	N/A	N/A
About Uncirculated – AU BN	$262,000-$380,000	N/A	$227,000-$412,000 (53-58)
Mint State – MS BN	$435,000-$480,000 (61-62)	$1,400,000 (64 only)	$860,000 (63 only)

Circulation Strike Value Chart – Red-Brown Coins (RB)

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1943 Red-Brown Copper Penny	1943-D Red-Brown Copper Penny	1943-S Red-Brown Copper Penny
MS 60 RB	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 61 RB	$412,000	N/A	N/A
MS 62 RB	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 63 RB	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 64 RB	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 65 RB	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 66 RB	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 67 RB	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 68 RB	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 69 RB	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 70 RB	N/A	N/A	N/A

Circulation Strike Value Chart – Red Coins (RD)

	Coin Names And Coin Values
Grade Names	1943 Red Copper Penny	1943-D Red Copper Penny	1943-S Red Copper Penny
MS 60 RD	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 61 RD	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 62 RD	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 63 RD	$1,000,000	N/A	N/A
MS 64 RD	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 65 RD	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 66 RD	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 67 RD	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 68 RD	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 69 RD	N/A	N/A	N/A
MS 70 RD	N/A	N/A	N/A

What Makes A 1943 Copper Penny Valuable?

1943 copper pennies are highly valuable coins. This is mostly due to the fact that they are error coins, as 1943 pennies were supposed to be made from steel. As a result, these pennies are very rare, which also adds to their value. 

Of course, grading and mint marks contribute as well.

Let’s start with grading.

Grading

Grading significantly adds to the value of a 1943 copper penny. 

All known examples are very valuable. Even a Very Fine 1943 copper penny is worth nearly $150,000. Mint-State grades are worth significantly more, some nearing or over $1 million.

Rarity

The Mint minted 1943 copper pennies approximately 20 times across all of its versions. However, the true amount is unknown.

These pennies are extremely rare at all grades. This is because it is a transitional error coin (when the Mint strikes a coin on the previous year’s metal). 

Mint Marks

The U.S. Mint did mint (accidentally) the 1943 copper penny in Philadelphia (no mint mark), Denver (“D” mint mark), and San Francisco (“S” mint mark).^1-6

Denver is the most valuable of the three, followed by San Francisco, and then Philadelphia. However, all three versions are significantly valuable.

Strike Types

The 1943 copper penny only has a circulation strike type. No proof-strike versions or special-strike versions exist.^12,13

All circulation-strike versions are highly valuable, although the fact that they are circulation strikes doesn’t add to their value.

Design Variations

The 1943 copper penny has no design variations.

Special Designations

The 1943 copper penny has special designations for color. Specifically, it has a red (RD), red-brown (RB), and brown (BN) special designation. 

Each designation refers to the coin’s color, determined by exposure to such things as air and moisture. As a result, brown copper pennies are common, while red-brown copper pennies are rarer, and red pennies are the most rare.

Red pennies are worth more than red-brown pennies, which are worth more than brown pennies. This is especially true for 1943 copper pennies since they are so rare and coveted by collectors.

Error Coins 

The 1943 copper penny has no error coins. It is an error coin itself, happening as the Mint switched from copper to steel for the non-error 1943 steel pennies.¹

However, it being a desirable error coin significantly drives up its value. Specifically, it is a transitional error coin since the Mint was changing from copper to steel.

Die Varieties

The 1943 copper penny has no known varieties.

Composition

The 1943 copper penny’s copper composition does not contribute to its value in the sense that the amount of copper in a penny is not very valuable.

However, a 1943 penny being made from copper makes it extremely valuable due to the fact that 1943 pennies were supposed to be made from steel. 

In other words, do not melt down a 1943 copper penny. Instead, get a professional to certify it. This is especially important due to the possibility of it being a counterfeit coin (more on that below).

How Do You Know If You Have A Valuable 1943 Copper Penny?

The best way to know if you have a valuable 1943 copper penny (or any coin) and to get that value out of it is to have it professionally certified.

However, you can look for many elements to get you started in determining what coin you have.

Let’s start with grading.

Grading

Although any grade of 1943 copper penny is valuable, the Mint-State grades are naturally the most valuable.

Look for pennies with fewer imperfections and mistakes to start determining if you have one of these grades.

Always handle coins with care. Wear soft cotton gloves, and make sure to hold coins between your thumb and index finger.

Do not attempt to polish or clean any of your coins.

These steps are essential for preserving the value of your coins, even more essential with extremely rare and valuable coins.

Mint Marks

Look for a mint mark beneath the year on the front of a 1943 copper penny. 

No mint mark means the coin’s minting location was Philadelphia.

A “D” mint mark means the coin’s minting location was Denver, which is the most valuable.

An “S” mint mark means the coin’s minting location was San Francisco, which is the next most valuable.

Strike Types

The 1943 copper penny only has a circulation strike type. Circulation-strike coins generally have a lower level of detail and finish than proof-strike or special-strike types.

The detail of the circulation-strike for this coins will look the same as the circulation-strike 1943 steel pennies.

Design Variations

The 1943 copper penny has no design variations. 

Special Designations

A penny must contain a specific amount of its original red color to qualify for the red, red-brown, or brown special designations. Third-party coin-grading services list these amounts as percentages. 

However, those same third-party services disagree on the exact percentages required to qualify for one special designation or the other. 

But generally, a 1943 copper penny (and other copper pennies) must contain nearly all of its original red color to qualify for the red special designation. It must have most or some remaining to qualify for the red-brown special designation and only a little bit remaining to qualify as brown.

You can determine this a little bit with your own eyes. However, given the preciseness of these special designations, we highly recommend consulting with a professional so they can more accurately determine which one your coin is.

Error Coins

The 1943 copper penny has no error coins. It’s an error coin itself, making it very valuable.

Die Varieties

The 1943 copper penny has no known varieties.

How Do You Know If You Have A Legitimate 1943 Copper Penny?

Unfortunately, counterfeit coins exist, especially for highly valuable coins like the 1943 copper penny.¹⁴

As a result, it can be challenging to know if you have a legitimate or fake coin. However, there are some things you can do to ensure a coin’s legitimacy. 

Only Buy From Reputable Sites

Reputable sites include examples such as the ones we’ve included in the “Where To Buy” section below. More exist, though, and buying from them is a big part of ensuring you’re acquiring only legitimate coins.

Some tips to determine a site’s reputability include:

• Checking how long it has been around
• Reviewing their credentials
• Reviewing feedback from users (preferably somewhere else than on the site)
• And others

Only Buy From Reputable Sellers

Most sites do a thorough job of ensuring the credibility of their sellers and wares. However, that doesn’t mean you should take this for granted.

It’s always a good idea to check a seller’s previous auctions.

Check The Coin To See If It’s Magnetic

Steel is magnetic. Copper is not.

So, a 1943 copper penny that’s magnetic is not legitimate. 

Weigh It

Copper pennies weigh more than steel pennies. Specifically, copper pennies weigh 3.11 grams (0.109702 ounces), while steel pennies weigh 2.70 grams (0.0952397 ounces).

Weigh the coin to see which one you have.

Look At The Edge

Occasionally, someone will try to turn another coin into a 1943 copper penny or make their own. This can result in the coin’s edge looking like it contains more than copper. 

Look At The Date

Some people try to turn 1948 copper pennies into 1943 copper pennies. Look for marks around the date or an unusual-looking “3.”

Trust Yourself

If something seems too good to be true, it is. 

For example, maybe someone is selling a 1943 copper penny at an incredible price. That could be legitimate, but it’s much more likely that it’s not. 

Always buy skeptically.

Check For Certification Or Get A Professional To Certify It

Someone claiming to have a 1943 copper penny should have gotten a professional to certify it. Check this certification.

Alternatively, you can ask them to have a professional certify it before proceeding.

Additional Information About The 1943 Copper Penny

History

The 1943 copper penny exists because of World War II. 

During the war, the U.S. military needed copper. The U.S. Mint still needed to make pennies, so they eventually developed the 1943 steel penny as a substitute.

However, mistakes happened like with other changes from one metal to another.

These mistakes resulted in a small number of 1943 copper pennies.

The following year, the U.S. stopped making steel pennies and replaced them with pennies made from brass shell casings augmented with copper. This was due to the problems steel pennies caused, such as the zinc covering wearing down due to moisture and many mistaking the coins for dimes.

^{Sources: 15-16}

The Coin’s Obverse Side

The 1943 copper penny’s obverse side features Abraham Lincoln as the coin’s centerpiece. The words “In God We Trust” curve around the space above his head and below the rim. “Liberty” sits to the left of his collar, and “1943” sits to the right of his chest. 

A Philadelphia 1943 copper penny bears no mint mark. Denver versions have a “D” below the “1943.” San Francisco versions have an “S” below the “1943.”

^{Sources: 1-6}

The Coin’s Reverse Side

The 1943 copper penny’s reverse side features “One Cent” and “United States Of America” as the centerpieces on the back. Two pieces of wheat curve around them, following the rim. “E Pluribus Unum” curve under the top of the rim. This means “Out of many, one,” which is the USA’s motto.

^{Sources: 1-4}

Why Do Some Places Refer To The 1943 Copper Penny As a Bronze Penny?

Bronze and copper are not the same. Bronze is made from copper and other metals.¹⁷

Technically, a 1943 copper penny is bronze. As a result, some will refer to it as a bronze penny, and some will refer to it as a copper penny.

Sources

1943 Copper Penny Value Guide Sources