All 1945 cents were struck in copper.
If you have a silver-colored coin dated 1945 it has been plated and is only worth 1¢.
OTOH if your coin is dated 1943, then it is steel and is worth maybe 25-50 cents depending on how worn it is.
A 1943 steel penny with no mintmark can be worth $.35 - $1.50
-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.
A Philadelphia mint 1943 steel penny in circulated condition is worth approximately 10-25 cents. In uncirculated condition, it can be worth up to $5 or more. The value can vary depending on the coin's condition and any unique characteristics.
A 1943 zinc-coated steel penny is known as a "steel cent." In circulated condition, it is worth about 10-25 cents. In uncirculated condition or with specific mint marks, they can be worth more to collectors, ranging from a couple of dollars to over $100.
The "S" mintmark on a 1943 steel penny indicates that it was minted in San Francisco.
The highest worth of a 1943 steel penny is about $10,000 for one that is in mint condition and graded by a professional coin grading service as being in flawless condition. These pennies are rare because steel was used in place of copper due to the shortage during WWII.
The steel penny was produced in 1943 during World War II due to a shortage of copper, which was needed for the war effort. The U.S. Mint minted these pennies from zinc-coated steel as a temporary measure. After 1943, the Mint returned to using copper for the penny.
The 1944 steel penny is valued highly because it was produced using leftover steel from World War II, as the U.S. Mint switched back to copper for the penny in that year. In contrast, the 1943 steel penny, made from zinc-coated steel to conserve copper during the war, is much more common, making it less valuable. The rarity and historical significance of the 1944 steel penny contribute to its higher market price, while the 1943 version is abundant and widely circulated.
I looked up a wheat penny chart and it said, a 1943 penny is worth about 15 cents, a 1943 penny with a d mint-mark is worth about 18 cents, and a 1943 penny with an s mint-mark is worth about 20 cents. I'm not sure how recent the chart is, because if the chart is old they could be worth a bit more. But I'm not sure
1.7 Million dollars, that was what a collector recently paid for a 1943 copper penny made at the Denver mint, the only known 1943 copper penny struck there (keep in mind that the 1943 pennies were struck in steel, the copper 1943 pennies are errors).
The steel cents were only struck in 1943 and have values of 3 to 5 cents depending on condition
According to a 2014 coin price chart, there is no wheat penny that is worth $12,500. There is, however, a 1922 (no mint mark) wheat penny worth about $500 in circulated condition and $20,000 in mint condition. The highest price penny like this is a 1944 Steel penny that is worth $100,000 in mint condition and $4,000 in circulated condition.