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How can you tell if your 1943 penny is copper or steel with zinc plating?
Wiki User
∙ 2007-05-17 21:41:54
If the coin has not been re-plated, the difference should be obvious to look at. The zinc-coated coins will be grayish in color rather than coppery. However, a lot of people create fake 1943 copper coins by re-plating a steel cent with copper. If you remember back to elementary school science class, copper is not attracted to a magnet, but steel is. Use a small magnet to test your coin. AFAIK all genuine copper 1943 cents are accounted for and in collections somewhere, so if yours appears to be copper I'm willing to guess it will turn out to be plated, unfortunately.
Wiki User
∙ 2007-05-17 21:41:54
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What is the different between the penny in 1943 and today's penny?
The 1943 US cent was made of steel with a zinc coating to prevent rust and weighed 2.70 grams. The cent of today is composed of 99.2 % zinc and 0.8 copper with a plating of pure copper and weighs 2.5 grams.
What is a 1943 penny nickel mix with copper?
The 1943 Lincoln cent is zinc coated steel not nickel and copper.
1943 pure copper penny does anyone know what it's worth?
-In 1943, pennies were made out of steel instead of copper. A 1943 pure copper penny is a rare mint error, and is worth lots.
Why is Lincoln 1943 penny worth more?
The 1943 penny was not made with copper, like all other years. Copper was funneled to the War Department so the 1943 penny was made from steel and other compounds.
Could your steel 1943 penny be plated on top and be original copper?
The original composition is steel not copper, many have been copper plated.
What year is the most valuable penny from?
1943. In 1943, to save copper for the war effort pennies were struck in zinc coated steel, however some copper blanks made their way into the press and were struck by accident, there are only a handful of known genuine examples of a copper 1943 penny and they can be worth in excess of 1 million dollars. However, steel 1943 pennies are incredibly common and are worth about 5 cents in circulated condition or a buck or two if uncirculated. An easy way to check if you have a steel or a copper penny is to hold a magnet up to it, the magnet will stick to the steel penny and not the copper penny.
When did copper pennies become magnetic?
The only U.S. coin that is magnetic is the 1943 steel penny. The penny was made out of steel rather than copper because of the shortage of copper for WW2.
How much is 1942 and 1943 copper pennies worth?
A 1942 copper penny is worth between $0.15 and $3.00. If you have a 1943 copper penny it is worth a lot more. In 1943 because of the war and the need for copper pennies in that year were made from steel. Steel pennies from 1943 are worth around $0.30 and $2.50. If you have a real 1943 copper penny take it to a coin shop or dealer and have them check it out to see if it is real.
Worth of a 1943 steel copper penny?
There isn't a "steel copper" penny. US cents were made of steel - but no copper - during 1943 to conserve copper for use in ammunition. Up till 1982 other dates of cents were made of a bronze alloy that was 95% copper, but no steel. A few 1943 cents were struck in bronze by accident but these are very rare and none have been found in many years.
Why did the penny turn a silver color?
In 1943 the US Mint briefly replaced the copper penny then in use with a steel penny, due to the wartime copper shortage.
What is a 1943 copper penny worth?
A genuine copper 1943 penny is worth many thousands of dollars. However, most out there are fakes; either copper-coated steel cents, or altered 1948 pennies.
Silver 1943 penny?
1943 pennies are not silver. They are zinc coated steel. Copper was saved for war effort.
