A regular 1943 steel penny is worth only a few cents. As the 1943 steel pennies circulated, the zinc coating started to turn dark gray and almost black. If it was in circulation long enough, the zinc coating completely wore off, and the steel underneath would start to show through.
How much is a steel 1943 s penny worth?
CoinTrackers.com has estimated the 1943 S Steel Wheat Penny value at an average of 65 cents, one in certified mint state (MS+) could be worth $25.
How much is a 1943 Lincoln wheat penny worth?
Zinc-coated steel was used as the substitute metal composition and hence the new silver-like coin is known as the wartime steel cent or steel penny. USA Coin Book Estimated Value of 1943 Lincoln Wheat Penny (Steel Cent Variety) is Worth $0.20 in Average Condition and can be Worth $2.60 to $8.47 or more in Uncirculated (MS+) Mint Condition.
What kind of copper was used to make 1943 pennies?
1943 pennies is unique in that the vast majority of them were minted out of steel. Copper demand was heavy because of World War II. 1943 copper pennies are presumed “error” coins that were simply minted at the beginning of the year in 1943 using leftover copper planchets that were used in 1942.
What was the Steel Penny used for during World War 2?
During World War 2: The US needed to allocate as much copper as possible for the war effort and this included copper used for minting Lincoln Cents at the US Mint. Zinc-coated steel was used as the substitute metal composition and hence the new silver-like coin is known as the wartime steel cent or steel penny.
What’s the difference between a silver and Steel Penny?
Steel pennies are sometimes referred to as a silver penny. However, steel pennies are not actually silver, but steel. The steel cent has also been called a steelie or war penny. The steel cent is a Lincoln wheat cent minted at 3.11 grams.
