If you’ve ever tossed a penny aside thinking it’s worthless, think again. This 1943 Copper Penny Just Sold for $2.2 Million! A 1943 copper penny just sold for a jaw-dropping $2.2 million, turning an everyday coin into a millionaire-maker. This rare mistake from the U.S. Mint during World War II has collectors going crazy — and there could still be more hiding in old jars or your loose change. This 1943 Copper Penny Just Sold for $2.2 Million!
The Mistake That Made History
Back in 1943, the U.S. Mint switched penny production from copper to steel coated with zinc to save copper for the war effort. But a few copper blanks leftover from 1942 accidentally got stamped into 1943 pennies. These copper 1943 pennies look almost identical to regular ones, but they’re brownish-red instead of silver-grey. This 1943 Copper Penny Just Sold for $2.2 Million!
Only around 20 of these copper pennies are known to exist today, making them one of the rarest and most wanted coins in the world. That’s why collectors are willing to pay millions for one. This 1943 Copper Penny Just Sold for $2.2 Million!
How to Tell if You Have the $2.2 Million Penny
Finding one of these rare coins doesn’t require you to be an expert. You just need to know what to look for:
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The date on the coin should read “1943.”
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Regular 1943 pennies are silver because they’re made of steel; the rare copper ones look brown or reddish.
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Try the magnet test: steel pennies stick to a magnet, but copper pennies won’t.
Here’s a simple comparison to help you check your coins:
| Feature | Regular 1943 Steel Penny | Rare 1943 Copper Penny |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Silver/grey | Brownish/red |
| Made of | Steel with zinc | Copper |
| Sticks to magnet? | Yes | No |
If you think you’ve found one, don’t try to clean or alter it. Cleaning can ruin a coin’s value. Instead, keep it safe and take it to a professional coin dealer or certified grading service to confirm it’s real.
Why Is This Penny So Valuable?
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It’s one of the most famous coin mistakes in U.S. history.
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There are very few 1943 copper pennies out there.
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Coin collectors love unique coins with a story behind them, and this one comes from a time when America was fighting in World War II.
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Prices for rare coins have been going up as more people start collecting.
One of these pennies sold in 2010 for $1.7 million, but the recent $2.2 million sale shows how valuable this tiny piece of history has become.
What Should You Do If You Think You Have One?
If you come across a 1943 penny that looks copper-colored:
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Don’t spend it or throw it in a coin jar.
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Don’t clean it or try to make it shiny.
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Store it safely and get it checked by a professional.
Some scammers try to fake these coins by copper-plating regular steel pennies or changing other dates to look like 1943. That’s why you should always get an expert opinion.
Are There More Hiding in Change?
Coin experts believe some 1943 copper pennies could still be sitting unnoticed in old collections or coin jars. Millions of pennies are still out there from decades ago. That means there’s a small chance you could find one of these million-dollar mistakes in your own home.
Before you roll up your spare change or use it in a vending machine, give your pennies a quick check. One of them could change your life forever.