How to Verify If You’ve Found the “King of Coin Errors”
This rare 1943 copper Lincoln cent (worth 300,000to300,000to1.7 million) is the holy grail of coin collecting. Here’s exactly how to confirm if yours is genuine – and avoid costly fakes.
🔍 3-Step Authentication Test
| Test | Genuine 1943 Copper | Fake/Altered Coin |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Magnet Check | ❌ Won’t stick | ✅ Sticks (steel) |
| 2. Weight Verification | 3.11g (±0.05g) | ~2.7g (steel) |
| 3. Date Inspection | “3” shorter than “4” | “3” = “4” length (altered 1948) |
🛑 Critical Warning: Fake Detection
Most Common Counterfeits:
- Plated Steel Pennies
- Passes magnet test but weighs 2.7g
- Copper wears off at edges
- Altered 1948 Coins
- “8” filed down to look like “3”
- Date digits same height (real 1943: “3” shorter than “4”)
- Cast Replicas
- Bubbly surfaces under magnification
- Wrong metal composition
💰 Real-World Value Examples
| Grade | Sale Price | Auction House | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCGS MS64BN | $504,000 | Heritage | 2024 |
| NGC MS63BN | $365,000 | Stack’s Bowers | 2022 |
| PCGS AU55BN | $212,000 | Legend | 2021 |
🔎 Where to Search
- Old Coin Rolls (1940s-50s wheat cent rolls)
- Estate Sales (look for WWII-era collections)
- European Collections (shipped overseas during war)
Success Story: A collector found one in a 10bankroll∗∗−soldfor∗∗10bankroll∗∗−soldfor∗∗1.7 million
📸 Free Professional Verification
Think you have one? Email close-ups of:
✔ Full obverse/reverse
✔ Clear date close-up
✔ Edge view
📧 copper@pennyverse.info
Subject: “1943 COPPER CHECK”
We respond within 24 hours with:
✔ Authenticity assessment
✔ Current market value
✔ Next steps
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