$2.6M Mystery: The 1943 Bronze Penny That Defied WWII Steel Rules

In 1943, the U.S. Mint shifted to zinc-coated steel pennies to save copper for the war effort. But a handful of bronze blanks accidentally slipped through the presses. Today, fewer than 15 authentic examples are known, and one sold for a record-breaking $2.6 million in 2024.

How to Spot This Million-Dollar Error

Non-Magnetic – Steel cents stick to magnets; bronze does not
Weight: 3.11g (vs. 2.7g for steel)
Lettering: Crisp “LIBERTY” with no signs of plating or alteration

Top 6 Most Valuable U.S. Coins (Sold for $300K+)

1. 1943 Bronze Lincoln Penny – $2.6 Million

Grade: PCGS MS-62
Rarity: Struck in 95% copper by mistake during WWII
Recent Sale: $2.6M private sale (Legend Rare Coin Auctions, 2024)

2. 1943 Bronze Penny (Brown) – $1.7 Million

Grade: PCGS MS-62 BN
Trait: Original red-brown toning, minimal wear
Auction Record: $1.7M (Heritage Auctions, 2023)

3. 1909-S VDB Penny – $863,000

Grade: PCGS MS-67 Red
Value: First-year Lincoln cent with designer’s initials
Fake Alert: Counterfeits often have misplaced “S” mint marks

1955 Double Die Obverse Penny – $391,000

Grade: PCGS MS-64
Feature: Clear doubling on date & “LIBERTY”
Auction Price: $391K (2019)

1870-S Seated Liberty Dollar – $375,000

Grade: NGC AU-53
Survival: Only 9 confirmed
Secret: Likely struck unofficially at San Francisco Mint

1913 Liberty Head Nickel – $2.5M (Inflation-Adjusted)

Grade: PCGS PR-63
Mystery: Only 5 exist, made illegally by a Mint employee
Sale: $336K in 1996 (≈ $2.5M today)

How to Avoid Fake Rare Coins

Magnet & Weight Test – 1943 bronze = non-magnetic, 3.11g
Die Doubling Check – 1955 doubled die is obverse-only
Mint Mark Verification – 1909-S VDB spacing must be exact

Want to Sell a Rare Coin?

Get It Graded – PCGS or NGC authentication is mandatory
Pick the Right Auction House – Heritage, Legend, or Stack’s Bowers
Document Provenance – Pedigree = higher collector demand