Is my 1943 steel penny real?

Is my 1943 steel penny real?

The easiest way to determine if a 1943 cent is made of steel, and not copper, is to use a magnet. If it sticks to the magnet, it is not copper. If it does not stick, the coin might be of copper and should be authenticated by an expert.

Should you clean steel pennies?

If you assume that the coins you have may be valuable (or you already know that they are), remember that any cleaning is strictly forbidden! If you do so, it will reduce the overall value of a coin because even the slightest cleaning can leave micro scratches and remove the “toning” from it.

Why is 1977 penny worth so much?

The 1977 Lincoln cent with no mint mark is pretty common. Nearly 4.5 billion (with a big, ol’ “b”) were made at the Philadelphia Mint — or 4,469,930,000 to be exact. Worn 1977 pennies without a mintmark are worth about 2 cents — due to the extra value of the copper metal in the coin’s bronze alloy.

Are pennies worth more than scrap metal?

Because of this, older pennies that contain copper are often considered to be worth more than their face value in scrap metal. Many estimate that each copper penny is worth about one and a half cents, though this fluctuates every day with the market value of copper.

What year pennies are worth money?

Most wheat pennies are worth no more than five cents, but pennies from certain years are worth much more. Mint condition pennies from 1909, 1914, 1931, 1941, 1946, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1956, and 1958 are worth anywhere from $2 to over $1,200.

What is the most expensive Penny ever sold?

The most expensive penny that has ever been sold at auction is a 1943-D Lincoln penny that had been struck on a bronze planchet. The penny was in uncirculated condition. It was sold in a private sale in September of 2010 and it went for an unbelievable price of $1,700,000 through Legend Numismatics .

What metal were pennies made from after 1983?

She is a member of the American Numismatic Association. If your Lincoln Memorial penny has a date before 1982, it is made of 95% copper. If the date is 1983 or later, it is made of 97.5% zinc and plated with a thin copper coating.