![]() The US Mint estimates that 40 of them still exist. No one noticed the error, and the pennies entered circulation. This resulted in the steel mixing with the copper for the first few pennies produced that year. When they made this switch, some of the copper was accidentally left in the hoppers. 1943 Bronze Lincoln Penny - About $1.7 MillionĪs World War II raged in 1943, the US Mint switched to making pennies out of steel to save copper for the war effort. Not all old pennies are valuable, but age is a starting point for identifying a penny worth money.Ģ. Those in favor of Lady Liberty won out, but of course, George Washington has graced many coins since, including the current quarter.Įven though you might not have a 1792 Birch Cent lying around, keep an eye out for any coin with an old date. Still, the first president, George Washington, was such a popular figure that many people wanted his likeness on the first penny. Keep in mind, the country was trying to separate itself from monarchies that had their kings and queens stamped on their coins. The coin features the profile of Lady Liberty on the front, which was a pretty controversial choice for the time. One in excellent "gem" condition sold in 2015 for an astounding $2.6 million. The coin was a "large cent," about the size of a quarter, and there are only 10 known examples. This penny is worth the most of all examples ever made. One of these is the famous Birch Cent of 1792, named after engraver Robert Birch. While the United States didn't officially start minting pennies until 1793, there were a few prototype pennies made prior to that time. She is also the co-author of "The Geek Gap" and vice president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Minda Zetlin is a freelance writer covering business, money, tech and collectibles. ![]() You never know, one of your pennies could be worth the price of a nice dinner - or a whole lot more. With so many rare coins out there, being a "penny pincher" might not be such a bad thing after all. Additionally, they can help get your coin certified by a grading service and guide you through the entire selling process. Some auction houses offer free evaluations. If you think you've found a valuable penny, Stone suggests consulting a professional. If you think you've found a 1943 Bronze Lincoln, the Mint suggests testing it with a magnet first. Heritage auctioned a similar one - in slightly lower grade - for $186,000 earlier this month," he said.ĭue to its value, some counterfeits were created with steel cores. "A nice circulated example, like Lutes' coin, could sell for around $150,000 to $200,000. ![]() Stone estimates that 15 to 20 are known to collectors today, although it's possible that there are a few that have not yet been accounted for. Today, the 1943 bronze Lincoln cent is described as "the most famous error coin in American numismatics" - and the odds of finding one are astronomically against. "The few bronze coins that were struck went unnoticed and got released into circulation." At least, that's what was supposed to happen.Īs fate would have it, "some of the old bronze planchets got stuck in the big tote bins that the Mint used to feed the coin presses at the end of 1942," he said. ![]() ![]() Mint switched to making pennies from zinc-coated steel planchets, instead of the usual bronze coin blanks, Stone explained. In order to preserve copper for the war effort, the U.S. "The most valuable Lincoln cent sold privately in 2010 for $1.7 million," said Stone. Only a handful of these bronze pennies have been discovered, including the one found by Lutes. ![]()
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