Fact Check: "A 1943 Copper Penny Could Be in Your Change"

What's true about the 1943 copper penny

During World War II copper was needed for ammunition and equipment, so in 1943 the Mint struck cents in zinc-coated steel instead of bronze. More than a billion steel cents came out of Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco. They're gray, they stick to a magnet and they're common.

A few bronze planchets from 1942 apparently stayed in the press hoppers when steel production began and were struck with 1943 dies. The US Mint has said experts estimate about 40 were made this way and that the Mint never officially released them. Only a small number have been confirmed, with at least one each from Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco.

Some really did turn up in circulation. NGC reported on a 1943-S bronze cent found in circulation in 1944 by a 14-year-old in Long Beach, California, either in change or a bank roll, which went unrecorded for decades. So the claim that one could come from pocket change has real history behind it. That was in the 1940s, though.

1943 and 1944 cents at a glance

Where the viral versions go wrong

The stories that circulate online attach invented figures to the coin, suggest the government is hunting for them and imply that many are waiting to be found. None of that holds up. When an earlier news report claimed the government was seeking the coins, the US Mint issued a correction and noted it had received thousands of calls from hopeful owners.

Real 1943 bronze cents are significant rarities that sell through major auction houses. They are not worth the many-millions figures in clickbait. And the chance that an unrecorded one is still loose in change after so many decades of people checking is very small.

The fakes you're far more likely to have

Copper-plated steel cents are the most common. Someone coated a normal 1943 steel cent with copper, either as a novelty or to deceive. They look right at a glance.

Altered dates are next. A 1948 cent with the 8 carved into a 3 is the classic. Other bronze cents of the 1940s have been altered the same way. These are bronze, so they pass the magnet test, which is why the date needs a close look.

Reprocessed steel cents have had their original zinc stripped and been replated, often to a bright chrome-like shine. They're steel and stick to a magnet. They look striking but carry little or no collector value.

How to test your 1943 penny

• Use a magnet. Any fridge magnet works. If your 1943 cent sticks, it's steel. Plated or not, it is not the rare coin.
• If it doesn't stick, weigh it on a gram scale. A genuine bronze cent weighs about 3.11 grams.
• Examine the date under magnification. The 3 should match the style of a genuine 1943 date. Tool marks, a slightly different shape or a 3 that doesn't line up with the 9 and 4 point to an altered date.
• Look at the mint mark area below the date for signs it was added or tooled.
• If it still passes, don't clean it and don't sell it to the first buyer. Send it to PCGS or NGC for authentication. A genuine example deserves that.

Don't forget the 1944 steel cent

In 1944 the Mint went back to a copper alloy made partly from salvaged shell casings. A few 1944 cents were struck on leftover steel planchets. These are as rare as the 1943 bronze cents. So test your 1944 cents too: this time you want one that sticks.

Why this story never dies

It has everything a viral story needs: a real rarity, a wartime backstory, a simple test anyone can do and a genuine history of coins being found in change. Content sites recycle it endlessly with bigger numbers attached. Next time you see it, check whether the article mentions the magnet test and the altered-date fakes. A guide written to help you will. One written to show you ads usually won't.

Frequently asked questions