Expert: PAPAJACK - 11/7/2009

Question
I am a collector of wheat pennies, but have come upon one of which I have never seen. It is a silver-colored, 1943 wheat penny. All of mine are copper-colored. I don’t know what metal it is made of or covered with, but would like to know more about it. Is it worth more?

Answer
Hello Dora,                       

The single year of 1943 the cents were made of steel with a zinc coating.

The war effort took all the copper resources from the country and the mint gave into the cause as well. I want to note that the following years the cents used copper from melted shell casings.  So the copper did end up in The United States Cents any way.

As for value they sell for from .35 cents in a grade of Good-4 to uncirculated graded specimens for about 3 dollars each. Do not buy any that have been replated or reconditioned.

I hope this information helps.

Good Luck

PapaJack