Why Is The 1943 Penny Worth So Much Money?

I deal in collectibles, mainly cards, and a few coins, but from time to time somebody will ask me about the 1943 penny. Better known as the wartime penny because it was minted during the second world war. The 1943 steel Lincoln penny is a unique collectible, highly sought after by both numismatists and non-numismatists alike. It is often considered the most iconic of all the Lincoln Wheat cent coins, and its demand as a collectible has been further increased by the fact that it was only minted for one year. This rare coin has become a symbol of the Second World War, and its popularity as a collectible continues to this day. To own a 1943 steel Lincoln penny is to own a piece of history, and many collectors are willing to pay a premium for the privilege. The reason the 1943 copper penny is highly sought after by coin collectors is that the United States Mint made an error when striking this coin. Instead of using the traditional zinc-coated steel planchet, they used a copper ...