This circulating penny is valued at $85,000—here’s how to identify it.

Discovering Valuable Pennies
Do you know how to identify this penny? Coins often hide in plain sight, and some can be worth much more than their face value. Recently, news outlets reported that one particular coin is worth a significant amount!

The Worth of the 1943 Copper Wheat Penny
According to sources like Coin Trackers, the New York Post, KHOU, and Daily Mail UK, a mint condition 1943 copper wheat penny could fetch over $85,000! In 1943, pennies were primarily made of steel and zinc-plated to prevent rust due to copper shortages during World War II. Coin Week explains that the U.S. Mint planned to strike all 1943 cents on zinc-coated steel planchets.

The Mistake That Made It Valuable
At some point that year, a few copper blanks accidentally entered the minting process. These “mistake” coins are now selling for five- and six-figure amounts. To achieve values around $85,000, these 1943 copper wheat pennies must be in mint condition. Even those in lesser condition are still averaging $60,000, according to Coin Tracker. Saul Teichman, an expert in U.S. Mint errors, explains that collectors drive the value up:

“1943 copper cents have a special cachet with collectors. They sell for much more than other errors from that time. Many World War II errors are rarer but bring a fraction of the price due to a lack of that special cachet.”

Beware of Counterfeits
With increased interest in the 1943 copper wheat penny, the market now sees many counterfeit copies. Fraudsters may modify a 1948 copper penny by filing down the left side of the number 8 to resemble a genuine 1943 penny. Others might coat regular steel pennies with a copper layer to mimic the real deal.

To identify counterfeits, Coin Trackers suggests using a magnet. According to Daily Mail UK, “A solid copper penny will not stick to a magnet, while a steel penny with copper plating will.”

Check Your Collection
So, what are you waiting for? Look through your collection—you might have one of the luckiest pennies around! Please share this information with your friends and family.