If you’re someone who tosses pennies into a jar without a second thought, you might want to take a closer look. This Lincoln Penny Could Be Worth $1.7 Million! A rare Lincoln penny has shocked collectors and coin experts by being valued at an incredible $1.7 million. The best part? It looks just like an ordinary penny you might find in your pocket. Here’s what you need to know to find out if you could be holding one of these valuable coins. This Lincoln Penny Could Be Worth $1.7 Million!
A Penny Mistake That Turned into Millions
This super-valuable coin is called the 1943 Copper Lincoln Cent. In 1943, during World War II, pennies were supposed to be made of steel coated with zinc, not copper. The U.S. Mint needed copper for war supplies. But by mistake, a few copper blanks from 1942 got stuck in the coin presses in early 1943. These copper pennies went unnoticed at the time. Now, because of this mistake, the 1943 Copper Lincoln Cent is one of the rarest and most wanted coins in America. This Lincoln Penny Could Be Worth $1.7 Million!
How to Spot the $1.7 Million Penny
You don’t need to be an expert collector to check your pennies. Start by looking at the date — it must read “1943.” Most 1943 pennies will look silver or grey because they are made of steel. But if you find a brownish-red 1943 penny, it could be made of copper.
Here’s a quick comparison:
| Feature | Regular 1943 Penny | Rare 1943 Copper Penny |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Silver/grey | Brownish/red |
| Metal | Steel with zinc | Copper |
| Weight | Around 2.7 grams | Around 3.1 grams |
To confirm if it’s copper, you can do a simple magnet test. Steel pennies will stick to a magnet, but copper ones won’t. If your 1943 penny doesn’t stick, it could be time to visit a coin expert.
Why Are These Pennies Worth So Much?
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Only a few of these copper pennies were made by mistake, so they are extremely rare.
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Collectors love coins with a good story behind them, and a World War II-era mistake makes this penny even more interesting.
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These pennies are like a piece of history, which adds to their value.
One of these coins sold at an auction in 2010 for $1.7 million. Prices could go even higher today as coin collecting has become more popular.
What Should You Do If You Think You Have One?
If you think you found a 1943 Copper Lincoln Cent, don’t clean it or try to restore it. Cleaning can actually lower the value of a rare coin. Put it in a safe place and take it to a professional coin dealer or a certified grading service. They will examine the coin and tell you if it’s real.
Also, beware of fake coins. Some people try to turn regular 1943 steel pennies into fakes by copper-plating them. Others change a “1948” coin to look like “1943” by shaving the number. That’s why having an expert check your coin is very important.
Could There Be More Out There?
Experts believe that there could still be a few of these rare pennies hiding in old coin collections, jars, or even in your loose change. Millions of pennies pass through people’s hands every day. So, it’s not impossible that someone could find one of these valuable coins by accident.
If you’re cleaning out an old drawer or counting your spare change, remember to check your pennies. That simple habit could make you a millionaire overnight.