1943-D Bronze Lincoln Cent: Have you ever looked at your collection of old coins and wondered if one of these coins could make you a millionaire? Most coins are worth their face value, but some rare coins have sold for millions—even crores. One such exceptional coin is the 1943-D Bronze Lincoln Cent, which surprised coin collectors around the world by selling for $840,000 (roughly Rs. 7 crores) at auction in 2021.
What is so special about this coin? And if you also have old US coins, how do you know if one of them is the rare 1943-D Bronze Cent? Let’s know the features and ways to identify this historic coin.
1943-D Bronze Lincoln Cent: What is special?
The 1943-D Bronze Lincoln Cent is an exceptionally rare coin, which was accidentally minted on bronze (copper and tin) in 1943. At this time, the US Mint decided to issue steel coins to save copper, but some old copper planchets were accidentally left in the minting machine, and the 1943 issue was printed on them.
Key features of this coin:
- Designer: Victor David Brenner
- Cover design: Portrait of Abraham Lincoln
- Back design: Wheat stalks and the words “ONE CENT”
- Mint: Denver Mint (D mark)
- Composition: Bronze (copper and tin)
- Weight: 3.11 grams (more than the 2.7 grams of the steel cent)
- Total minting: Only 1 known coin
- Auction value: $840,000 (January 2021)
Why is this coin so rare and expensive?
In 1943, there was a huge demand for copper in the US due to World War II. Copper was needed to make weapons and ammunition for the war, so the US government decided to replace copper coins with steel coins. But in the meantime, some old copper planchets (flat metal plates) were left in the minting machine and accidentally became a 1943-D Lincoln Cent Bronze.
This mistake made this coin one of the rarest coins ever known. Since this coin made by the Denver Mint (D) exists as only one known specimen, it is more rare and valuable than the other 1943 bronze cents (which were made at the Philadelphia and San Francisco Mints).
How to identify a 1943-D bronze Lincoln cent?
If you think you might have this rare coin, check in these ways:
- Check the date and mint mark
- The coin should have the date 1943 stamped on the obverse.
- The D (the Denver Mint mark) should be below the date.
- If your coin doesn’t have a “D” or the date 1943, it’s not that rare coin.
- Do a magnet test
- Most 1943 Lincoln cents were made of steel, so they will stick to a magnet.
- But the 1943-D bronze cent is made of copper, so it won’t stick to a magnet.
- Check the weight
- The typical 1943 steel cent weighs 2.7 grams.
- The 1943-D bronze cent will weigh 3.11 grams.
- If your coin doesn’t stick to a magnet and weighs close to 3.11 grams, it may be valuable.
- Get professional authentication
- Certifying organizations like PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) and NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation) can verify and grade a coin’s authenticity.
What if you have a 1943-D bronze cent?
If you think you have this rare coin, take these steps:
- Have it examined by a nearby coin expert?
- Get certification from PCGS or NGC.
- Contact major auction houses or coin dealers.
- Make sure the coin is completely authentic to avoid fraud.
Other Rare and Valuable U.S. Coins
If you can’t find a 1943-D bronze cent, don’t despair. Several other coins are also quite valuable:
- 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent – It bears the “S” (San Francisco) mint mark and “VDB.”
- 1955 Double Die Obverse – It has a double image of the letters “LIBERTY” and “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
- 1877 Indian Head Cent – This coin is rare due to its low mintage.
- 1944 Steel Cent – Like the 1943 steel cent, but it was accidentally struck on steel in 1944.
Conclusion
The 1943-D Bronze Lincoln Cent coin is one of the rarest and most expensive U.S. coins in the world. With only one known specimen, this coin sold for $840,000 at auction in 2021. If you have a 1943 Lincoln Cent, check its date, mint mark, magnetic properties, and weight.
While this coin is extremely difficult to find, you can still make a valuable find by identifying other rare U.S. coins!
FAQs On 1943-D Bronze Lincoln Cent
Q. Are all 1943 Lincoln cents rare?
A. No, most 1943 coins were made of steel and are not worth much. Only the bronze 1943 cents are rare.
Q. How many copies of the 1943-D bronze Lincoln cent have been found so far?
A. Only one coin has been found so far.
Q. Can I check the authenticity of the coin myself?
A. Yes, you can do a magnet and weight test, but it is important to get certification from PCGS or NGC to be sure.