It's potentially worth jail time, if someone catches you with it.
The U.S. never made a silver penny. It would have been worth more than a dime! If its date is anything other than 1943, it's either a fake or it's been silver plated. If it's dated 1943 it's made of zinc-coated steel.
If it is copper, than it is worth thousands of dollars: unless it is a fraud which you can find out by placing it on a magnet. It will stick if it is fake. If your penny is silver colored, if uncirculated, it is worth about a dollar. if circulated, about 25 cents.
If it's a 1943 steel penny, it isn't worth much...a few cents if it's circulated, or a little more, maybe 50 cents if it's uncirculated. If it's a 1943 copper penny take it to a reputable coin dealer as fast as you can get there. HOWEVER, I can basically guarantee you that it isn't a 43 copper penny, because only about 10 are known to exist. If it's silver in color, it's a steel penny. If it happens to be copper in color, have someone check it out, BUT, it's likely a fake if it's copper.
In circulated condition, a 1943 United States cent made of steel with a thin coating of zinc is worth perhaps 10 to 25 cents; in really pristine uncirculated condition, perhaps 2 to 5 dollars. If you have a 1943 United States cent made of copper (and if you do, it's probably fake because there are only a handful in existance), then you have something worth several thousand dollars.
To determine if a 1943 steel penny is real or fake, you can use a magnet. Steel pennies are magnetic, so if the penny is attracted to the magnet, it is likely authentic. Additionally, you can examine the weight and appearance of the coin compared to known authentic examples. If you are still unsure, consider taking the penny to a professional coin dealer or reputable appraiser for authentication.
A genuine copper (bronze actually) 1943 Philadelphia issue Lincoln cent has a minimum value of $60,000.00.
you have a 1943 penny that looks like it is made out of copper, this is how you can authenticate it to tell if it is a genuine 1943 copper penny, or a fake 1943 copper penny. But first of all, be aware that the 1943 penny was issued in zinc-coated steel, because the USA needed copper for the war effort. Any genuine 1943 copper pennies are extremely rare mint errors. Learn more about your silver colored 1943 Steel Penny. The easiest way to tell if your 1943 copper cent is merely a copper-plated steel penny is to test it with a magnet. If the magnet sticks to the penny, it's made of steel which has been dipped or plated in copper. Such a penny is worth about 15 cents as a novelty item. If your 1943 copper colored penny doesn't stick to a magnet, then look at the date carefully (using a magnifying glass, if possible.) If the tail of the 3 doesn't extend well below the "line" of numbers, it is probably a cut-in-half 8. A very common fraud involving the copper 1943 cent is to cut away part of the 8 in the date of a 1948 penny. If the 3 in your date looks like half of an 8, your coin is not a genuine 1943 copper penny. Any time you have a potentially valuable coin, it's always a good idea to take it to a qualified coin dealer for a professional opinion. Most dealers do not charge to have a look at your coins and give you an informal verbal appraisal. More Coins Quick Tips Coin Values Guide
Real 1943 Lincoln cents struck on bronze planchets, have sold from $40,000.00 to more than One Million dollars. More fake coins exist than authentic coins. If you think you have one you should take it to a reputable coin dealer to have it authenticated.
If real? Priceless. However, since US steel pennies were only struck in 1943 (and a VERY small number in 1944), it is a worthless fake. Now, if you had a 1974 Aluminum penny -- THAT would be worth quite a lot.....
Real 1943 Lincoln cents struck on bronze planchets, have sold from $40,000.00 to more than One Million dollars. More fake coins exist than authentic coins.
Take it to a reputable coin dealer and he can verify it for you. Some easy tricks to do is to see if it sticks to a magnet, if it does, it is a fake. Secondly, look at the coin under a loupe and compare the last 2 digits to a genuine 1943 steel penny, if they aren't identical, it is an altered coin.
It is a fake card, a counterfeit version of 'Harpie's Pet Dragon'. It is not worth anything.