Lincoln Wheat Penny Worth $282,000 – Still Hiding in Everyday Spare Change

Imagine a penny worth of more than a few luxury cars. This is what came to be with the in famous 1943-S Bronze Lincoln Wheat Penny: It is a coin that, due to an error, entered American history with the highest price ever given to an error coin.

The coin was never supposed to exist, yet collectors are paying in hundreds of thousands for even one copy.

Error

In the year 1943, America stood at war and copper went into a vital metal for making bullets and other equipment; hence, to conserve copper, the U.S. Mint chose to produce pennies of zinc-coated steel. These silver-colored pieces were light, the saving of copper being for the war effort.

Now comes the interesting bit: some bronze blanks, or planchets, left over from prior years remained in the presses accidentally. Very few 1943 pennies were struck on bronze instead of steel.

By the time the error was discovered, the coins had already been released into the public.

Rarity

Most 1943-dated pennies were struck in steel and were silver in color. Thus, any brown or red 1943 steel-looking penny should be checked as it might be bronze. The “S” make it even more special, being struck at San Francisco, where even fewer of these bronze errors were made.

It is theorized that very few 1943 S lyre pennies may still exist. Some are bound away in private collections, while from time to time one emerges at a high-end auction. The extreme rarity and the story of their accidental creation make them an item of utmost demand in the coin fraternity.

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Auction

The penny acquired its true worth and is so to speak an ironic statement to have sold for $282,000 in 2023. The coin was MS-62, which means it was in “mint state” with minimal signs of wear.

The valuation was not just about its being an error coin in brilliant condition; the price was set due to it being one of the rarest mistake coins in American numismatics.

Here’s a quick look at the record-breaking sale:

Coin Type	1943-S Bronze Lincoln Penny
Metal	Bronze (copper alloy)
Auction Year	2023
Grading	MS-62
Sale Price	$282,000
Mint Location	San Francisco (S Mintmark)

Collecting

If you happen to be a collector or merely curious, here are indicators that a coin in possession is a bronze 1943 penny:

• Color: Bronze coins tend to be reddish-brown in color, whereas steel coins are inherently silver-colored.
• Magnet Test: Steel pennies stick to the magnet, whereas bronze ones don’t.
• Mintmark: Look for an “S” under the date; that tells you it came from San Francisco.
• Year: The obverse bears 1943.

If you think you might have stumbled onto one, never clean it-you should take it right away to a certified grader and/or coin dealer. Even damaged ones have been worth into the tens of thousands.

Legacy

The 1943-S Bronze Lincoln Penny is more than a coin—it is a historical accident turned six-figure treasure. Minted at one of the most important times in American history, the little copper disc expresses scarcity, error, and value all in one.

So when you next find yourself digging through a jar of old coins, don’t just toss those dusty pennies aside. The one you pass today could be your retirement plan tomorrow.

FAQS