What is a 1943 steel penny worth?

In 1943, the United States Mint produced steel pennies instead of the usual copper ones due to a shortage of copper caused by World War II. These steel pennies were made with zinc-coated steel to save copper for the war effort.

The 1943 steel penny is quite common and is not considered rare. However, a genuine 1943 copper penny is extremely rare and valuable. Some copper planchets were left in the machinery from the previous year, resulting in a small number of 1943 copper pennies being produced. Only a few are known to exist, and they can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The value of a regular 1943 steel penny in circulated condition is usually around 10 to 25 cents. In uncirculated condition, it may be worth a little more, up to a few dollars. Special mint sets or high-grade examples could be worth more to collectors.

It's always important to have your coin authenticated and graded by a professional coin dealer or grading service to determine its true value.