People in the world of collecting and numismatics are faced with an incredible discovery, as a totally unique 1943 penny has been found, which is a minting error from World War II. The coin was created by the US Mint and belongs to the Lincoln Wheat Cent series. Victor David Brenner was its designer and chose Abraham Lincoln as the figure to be represented on the coin. The San Francisco Mint, Denver Mint, and Philadelphia Mint are the mints that minted this coin. The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation highlight the uniqueness of this coin, which has been auctioned by Heritage Auctions. Read on to learn all the interesting facts about this coin.
A mistake that made history
The history of this coin begins in the midst of World War II, when copper became a strategic material for manufacturing cables, ammunition casings, and other military resources.
To save this metal, the US Mint decided to manufacture the 1943 pennies with zinc-coated steel instead of the traditional bronze.
However, during this transition process, some bronze plates were left in the machines by mistake, resulting in an extremely limited number of copper pennies being minted that year.
Experts estimate that only about 40 coins were manufactured in total at the various US Mint locations.
One of these coins, from the San Francisco Mint (1943-S), sold in 2020 for $504,000, according to data from Heritage Auctions.
The Wheat Penny, symbol of an era
This rare penny belongs to the Lincoln Wheat Cent series, designed by artist Victor David Brenner and produced between 1909 and 1958.
One side features a portrait of President Abraham Lincoln, while the other shows two ears of wheat, symbolizing the country’s agricultural roots.
The combination of historical design, scarcity, and minting error has made this penny a numismatic gem.
According to collectors, only five copper specimens are known to exist from the San Francisco Mint, between 10 and 15 from Philadelphia, and one from Denver, the latter considered the rarest of all.
The Lincoln Wheat Cent, first introduced in 1909, was a groundbreaking coin in U.S. numismatic history. It was the first American coin to feature a real historical figure, honoring President Abraham Lincoln on the centennial of his birth. Prior to this, U.S. coinage primarily depicted allegorical representations of Liberty rather than actual people.
Designed by Victor David Brenner, a renowned sculptor, the Lincoln Cent’s obverse features a detailed portrait of Lincoln, inspired by a 1864 photograph taken by Mathew Brady. The reverse showcases two wheat stalks encircling “ONE CENT” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”, symbolizing prosperity and national strength.
The Lincoln Wheat Cent remained in production until 1958, when it was replaced by the Lincoln Memorial reverse. However, it remains one of the most collected and historically significant coins in U.S. history, with key dates—like the 1943 Copper Penny—becoming some of the rarest and most valuable coins ever minted.
How to identify an authentic coin
Anyone who suspects they have one of these coins can perform simple tests:
- Magnet test: steel coins are magnetic, but copper coins are not. If the penny does not stick to the magnet, it could be a valuable specimen.
- Weight: Copper versions weigh around 3.11 grams, while steel ones are lighter.
If a coin meets these characteristics, experts recommend taking it to certification institutions such as the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) for an official evaluation.
A piece that stands the test of time
More than 80 years after it was minted, the 1943 penny continues to capture the attention of collectors and curious onlookers alike.
Its story is a mixture of chance, historical context, and a dose of luck. And although the value of a penny may seem insignificant, in this case it shows that even mistakes can become treasures.
