If you collect Lincoln cents, you already know the whisper: somewhere out there is a single 1943-D Lincoln Copper Cent—one coin—from the Denver Mint, struck in bronze during the wartime steel-cent year. It’s been certified, traded among marquee collections, and it has set seven-figure headlines. For everyone else, it’s a mind-bender: how can a “penny” be worth a house? Because this one is unique, historic, and fiercely provenanced. PCGS records it as MS64 Brown with a 2021 Heritage Auctions price realized of $840,000 and a prior private sale at $1.7 million in 2010.
TL;DR: The 1943-D Lincoln Copper Cent is a unique off-metal error from the steel-cent year; verified by top grading services, it boasts an elite pedigree and record prices. Most 1943 “copper” cents you’ll see are either altered or steel cents with plating—use a magnet and a scale before you dream big, and then send any nonmagnetic 3.11 g example to a major grading service.
Why the 1943-D Lincoln Copper Cent matters (context & market)
In 1943, copper and nickel were diverted to the war effort, so the U.S. Mint struck cents on zinc-plated steel planchets. It was a one-year experiment: Philadelphia made 684,628,670, Denver 217,660,000, and San Francisco 191,550,000 steel cents—over a billion coins in total.
A handful of leftover bronze planchets from 1942 (or similar off-metal feed) slipped into production, creating the famous 1943 “copper” cents—rare transitional errors now entrenched in U.S. coin lore. The U.S. Mint itself has long acknowledged the wartime composition change and the accidental nature of the bronze strikings.
How many 1943 bronze cents exist? Estimates vary by source, but PCGS summarizes the census roughly as ~17 total(about 10 Philadelphia, 6 San Francisco, and 1 Denver), while noting conflicting counts for the Philadelphia issue. Either way, the Denver piece is unique.
Just as crucial to the story: the public disliked the ugly, dime-colored steel cents, and the Mint returned to a copper-based alloy in 1944. That year saw its own transitional oddities—the extremely rare 1944 steel cent—illustrating how composition changeovers can produce legendary errors.
1943-D Lincoln Copper Cent: known specimen, provenance, and prices
PCGS lists exactly one survivor for the 1943-D Bronze—survival estimate: 1—graded MS64BN. Its condition census and provenance read like a who’s-who: authenticated by ANACS in 1979; sold $82,500 (Superior, 1996); $212,750(Goldbergs, 2003); $1.7 million in a 2010 private sale brokered by Legend Numismatics; then $840,000 at Heritage in January 2021 from the Bob R. Simpson Collection. As PCGS numismatist Ron Guth puts it, “Only a single example is known of the 1943-D Bronze Cent.”
Numismatic authors John Wexler and Kevin Flynn have reported that the coin may have been intentionally struck at Denver, citing zinc fragments on the piece that suggest the dies had been used on steel planchets. That “back-room” debate is part of the coin’s mystique—but regardless of origin, its uniqueness and traceable ownership underpin its market strength.
Data snapshot (Denver bronze vs. Denver steel, 1943)
- Denver Bronze (the coin): Unique; 95% copper, 5% tin & zinc; 3.11 g; PCGS MS64BN; auction record $840,000(2021); prior private sale $1.7M.
- Denver Steel (regular issue): 217,660,000 minted; zinc-plated steel; 2.70 g; common in circulated grades.
How to authenticate a 1943 copper cent (including the 1943-D Lincoln Copper Cent)
The overwhelming majority of “1943 copper pennies” encountered in the wild are altered-date cents or copper-plated steel. Before you spend money, run these basic checks and then get professional confirmation:
- Magnet test: A genuine bronze 1943 cent is nonmagnetic; a plated steel fake will stick to a magnet. If it doesn’t stick, submit it to PCGS/NGC for authentication.
- Weight: Bronze (95% Cu) cents weigh ~3.11 g; 1943 steel cents are ~2.70 g. Use a scale accurate to 0.01 g.
- Design diagnostics: The “3” in the date should match the steel-cent style; genuine pieces typically show a sharp strike, with clear V.D.B. initials and raised rims (allowing for wear).
- Certification: Because of high values and pervasive fakes, send any candidate to a top grading service (PCGS, NGC, or ANACS).
Quick comparison: 1943 Steel vs. 1943 Bronze (all mints)
| Attribute | 1943 Steel Cent | 1943 Bronze/Copper Cent |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | Zinc-plated steel | 95% copper, 5% tin & zinc |
| Weight | ~2.70 g | ~3.11 g |
| Magnetism | Magnetic | Nonmagnetic |
| Mintage / Rarity | >1 billion combined (P/D/S) | Dozens known across all mints; Denver is unique |
| Typical value* | Low (circulated) to modest (gem) | Six figures for P & S; seven figures for 1943-D |
Case studies: cafeteria change, a teenage find, and a media storm
- Don Lutes (Philadelphia bronze): In 1947, Massachusetts teen Don Lutes pulled a 1943 bronze cent from school cafeteria change. In 2019, the coin sold at Heritage for $204,000. Heritage’s release explains the classic “leftover bronze planchets in tote bins” scenario still cited in error-coin lore.
- Kenneth S. Wing Jr. (San Francisco bronze): Wing found his 1943-S bronze in 1944 as a teenager; decades later, NGC certified the piece and chronicled how Wing and Lutes each pressed authorities for recognition.
Those human stories—teenage curiosity turning into famous rarities—are part of why this series captures the imagination of seasoned pros and casual collectors alike.
Balanced perspectives: benefits and risks for collectors and investors
Upside (when authentic):
- Pedigree and uniqueness drive value. For the 1943-D Lincoln Copper Cent, the survival estimate is one; few coins can match that scarcity.
- Blue-chip provenance. ANACS (1979), PCGS MS64BN, and appearances in major sales (Superior, Goldbergs, Heritage) build buyer confidence and liquidity.
- Cultural cachet. The U.S. Mint and mainstream media have amplified the story for decades, enhancing demand and recognition.
Risks (to manage):
- Counterfeits and alterations are ubiquitous; plated steel examples abound. Always perform preliminary tests and insist on certification.
- Market variability. Record prices (e.g., $1.7M in 2010 vs. $840k in 2021) show that rarity isn’t a one-way street—grade, timing, and venue matter.
- Opportunity cost. Unique trophies are illiquid for most collectors; diversified strategies across key dates, condition rarities, and type coins may better match many portfolios. (General guidance)
Expert voices: NGC has called the 1943 bronze cent the “king of mint errors,” a sentiment that echoes across the trade. PCGS’s Ron Guth is equally blunt about the Denver piece: “Only a single example is known.”
1943-D Lincoln Copper Cent in the larger 1943–44 transition story
The bronze-in-1943 mystery is mirrored by the 1944 steel cent—another transitional off-metal that occurred when leftover steel blanks were struck after copper resumed in 1944. PCGS estimates roughly 25–30 1944 steel cents survive, underscoring how composition changeovers can produce different—but equally coveted—outliers.
Buying, selling, and appraising: practical steps
- Prove the metal first. Magnet + scale (2.70 g vs. 3.11 g) are day-one tests; pass those and then go straight to PCGS/NGC/ANACS.
- Document provenance. Keep (or ask for) certification numbers, sale receipts, and prior auction listings (e.g., Heritage records) to support valuation and insurability.
- Use specialists for high-end trades. Top dealers and auction houses maintain waiting lists for these rarities and can manage private-treaty sales discreetly (evidenced by the 2010 $1.7M transaction).
- Insurance and estate planning. Treat six- and seven-figure coins like fine art—insure and inventory accordingly. (General guidance)
FAQs
How many 1943 “copper” cents exist—and is the 1943-D truly unique?
Estimates differ, but PCGS summarizes about 17 bronze 1943 cents across all mints, with the Denver coin unique. (Some censuses list fewer Philadelphia pieces.)
What’s the best quick test?
A magnet. If it sticks, it’s steel (or plated). If it doesn’t, weigh it: bronze is ~3.11 g. Then send it to a top grading service.
Who designed the Lincoln cent—and what do “V.D.B.” initials mean?
Victor David Brenner designed the Lincoln cent; his initials appear on the shoulder truncation on modern pieces and are a diagnostic area on error coins.
What about 1944 steel cents I’ve heard about?
Those are the flip side of this story—leftover steel planchets struck in 1944 after copper resumed—estimated at 25–30survivors and prized by error collectors.
Did anyone really find one in change?
Yes—famously, Don Lutes (Philadelphia bronze) found his in 1947 school change; it brought $204,000 at Heritage in 2019. Kenneth Wing (San Francisco bronze) discovered his in 1944.
Conclusion
The 1943-D Lincoln Copper Cent is the textbook definition of a trophy coin: unique, storied, and instantly recognizable. Its value rests on far more than metal—documented provenance, unimpeachable certification, and a narrative that connects wartime necessity with minting nuance. For industry professionals, it’s a benchmark of rarity; for investors, a case study in how pedigree and proof support price; and for everyday collectors, a reminder that even the humblest denomination can hide a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.
If you think you’ve found a candidate, don’t clean it, run the quick tests above, and submit it. For acquisition or sale strategy at the high end, partner with a specialist auction house or dealer who routinely places six- and seven-figure rarities.
