Expert: PAPAJACK - 6/21/2007

Question
QUESTION: how much does 1943 copper penies cost??

ANSWER: Hello Maria,          

There were no US copper cents made on purpose in 1943.
The true copper 1943 cents made (there are less than 10 found so far) sell for thousands and tens of thousands depending on how they grade.
The 1943 copper cent is one of the most sought after items for coin collectors, as all circulating cents at that time were struck in zinc-coated steel because all the copper was needed for the war effort.

Supposedly 12 pieces were to have been mistakenly struck by the different Mints by mistake when some copper-alloy 1-cent blanks remained in the bins or hopper when production began on the new steel pennies.

A 1943 copper cent was sold in 1958, bringing more than $40,000. A subsequent piece sold for $10,000 in 1981. The highest amount paid for a 1943 copper cent was over $112,000 in 1999.

Because of its collector value, the 1943 copper cent has been counterfeited by coating steel cents with copper or by altering the dates of 1945, '48 and '49 pennies.

Please feel free to ask me anything pertaining to this or any other question on US Coins.

I hope this information helps. Please remember to rate this answer. And check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Good Luck

PapaJack

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i got 2 pennies of copper that i found and they are real I would like to sell them 2 some one but i dont know where to!!

Answer
Hello again Maria,          

These 2 coins you say are 1943 copper are likely fake coins! But if you want to pursue it and find out for sure I may be able to help.

I can direct you to a trustworthy coin person in your area. With out seeing the coin it is only a guess as to how it was made.

Write me back in a private question and let me know your general location using
1) The nearest large cities and
2) Some telephone area codes and
3) Some zip codes in your area, I can direct you to an AMERICAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION MEMBER/DEALER near there. They are ethical and trustworthy.

Thank you for your confidence in us here.
Please remember to rate this answer at the bottom of this page. And check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.

Thank You and Good Luck

PapaJack